Abstract
The arterial pulse wave velocity (PWV) has been considered as a useful indicator of arteriosclerosis (AS). We developed the new method to evaluate AS by accumulation of the vascular sound.
In this new method, two microphones were placed on the abdomen along the aorta at 7-8cm distance. The vascular second sound (VSS) of more than 50 beats were accumulated using of R wave of ECG as a trigger. The time interval was measured between proximal and peripheral peaks of VSS and PWV was calculated.
PWV by the new method was compared with PWV by the conventional method and the invasive method that the microtip catheter (Miller) was withdrawn from the ascending aorta to the abdominal aorta during diagnostic catheterization. PWV measurements were carried out in 14 male and 4 female subjects, ranging in age from 23-68 yo.
Significant correlation was found between PWV by the new method and that by the invasive method in the abdominal aorta (y=0.850x-68.35, r=0.792, p<0.001) and in the whole aorta (y=0.843x-41.12, r=0.660, p<0.005). PWV by the new method was correlated with that by the conventional method (y=0.763x+8.61, r=0.685, p<0.005).
Since this new method was simple and accurate, we thought that PWV calculated by VSS was useful as an indicator of regional arteriosclerosis in particular.
