P1.37 Non-Invasive Quantitative Assessment of Atherosclerosis with the Pulse Wave Velocity

Arterial stiffness is a predictor of atherosclerosis. This study was conducted to develop a method of coronary atherosclerosis severity assessment by means of brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). MATERIALS AND METHODS. We measured baPWV in 126 males (age 56,2±8,9) who received coronary angiographic examination (CAG). baPWV was measured by Vasera VS-1000 (Fukuda Denshi). RESULTS The patients were categorized into 3 groups according to the number of major coronary arteries having stenosis, that is, 1 vessel disease (1VD) group, 2VD group and 3VD group. The baPWV value was significantly greater in 2VD (n = 46, baPWV = 13,82±2,40 m/sec, p = 0,049) and 3VD groups (n = 44, baPWV = 14,38±2,97 m/sec, p = 0,0028) than that in 1VD group (n = 36, baPWV = 12,49±2,17 m/sec). No significant difference was observed between PWV value in 2VD and 3VD groups. To further investigate the relationship between baPWV values and CAG findings, we assessed the severity of stenosis (1 group - less than 75% stenosis, 2gr. - 75 to 99% stenosis, and 3gr. - complete occlusion, respectively). The baPWV value was significantly greater in 2 (n = 56, baPWV = 13,84±2,25 m/sec, p = 0,025) and 3 groups (n = 45, baPWV = 14,16±3,32 m/sec, p = 0,007) than that in 1 group (n = 25, baPWV = 12,23±1,42m/sec). No significant difference was observed between baPWV value in 2 and 3 groups. CONCLUSION. baPWV significantly increases with the number of affected vessels and severity of stenosis which indicates that it is a powerful diagnostic instrument for determining coronary artery atherosclerosis in males.