R-Pulse Wave Timing in Cardiovascular Monitoring: Further Observations

Pulse wave arrival times measured from the peak of the R-wave of the electrocardiogram to the onset of a peripheral pulse wave were recorded with a miniature pressure transducer in a group of 72 hypertensive pregnant women, of whom 19 were receiving sympatholytic antihypertensive medication and 53 were not. The mean (± SD) pulse wave arrival time of the hypertensive pregnant group was 204 ± 15 milliseconds, which was significantly shorter than that measured in a group of 49 uncomplicated normotensive pregnant subjects (222 ± 16 milliseconds) (P