Arterial stiffness: from physiology to clinical implications

Current European guidelines for the management of arterial hypertension introduce the assessment of arterial stiffness by pulse wave velocity (PWV) as an index of hypertension-related cardiovascular target organ damage. An increase in arterial stiffness is related to haemodynamic modifications at the level of the aorta, leading to a rise in cardiac afterload, a reduction in coronary perfusion and an overstretch of the aortic walls. An increasing number of studies have demonstrated the accuracy of PWV as an independent predictor of cardiovascular events and cardiovascular mortality in patients with different co-morbidities and cardiovascular risk. Many strategies have demonstrated their efficacy in preventing arterial stiffening; therapy of arterial hypertension is the mainstay in the management of patients with increased PWV and altered pulse wave reflection. Literature has clearly shown the specific efficacy of drugs interfering with the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and calcium-channel blockers in the control of central haemodynamics, particularly when compared with β-blockers (β-adrenoceptor antagonists). The same action has not yet been demonstrated on PWV. Further studies are needed to assess the real relative efficacy of different drug classes on the management of arterial stiffness and the clinical and prognostic relevance of these therapies