Studies of the arterial pulse wave

Previous studies have shown abnormalities of the arterial pulse wave in hypertensive subjects of all age groups. The major change has been diminution to disappearance of the dicrotic wave. The pharmacologic differences between epinephrine and norepinephrine offer a means of studying the mechanism of this change in the dicrotic wave. In the present study, normotensive subjects have had transient hypertension induced by the infusion of epinephrine and norepinephrine. The different effects of these drugs on their arterial pulse waves have been recorded.