Acute Systemic Inflammation Increases Arterial Stiffness and Decreases Wave Reflections in Healthy Individuals

Abstract

This is the first study to show through a cause-and-effect relationship that acute systemic inflammation leads to deterioration of large-artery stiffness and to a decrease in wave reflections. These findings have important implications, given the importance of aortic stiffness for cardiovascular function and risk and the potential of therapeutic interventions with antiinflammatory properties.