Large amount of evidence is now available on the crucial role of preclinical organ damage in determining the cardiovascular risk of individuals. Arterial stiffness parameters are commonly used for this purpose, to identify structural and functional changes of the arteries in the development of atherosclerotic disease. Recent European guidelines (ESC/ESH) recommended the assessment of arterial stiffness, as an evidence of target organ damage. However, measuring arterial stiffness parameters is currently not sufficiently widespread, and thus the information it provides remains desirable but difficult to obtain. According to the same guidelines “it might be more widely recommended if its availability were greater”. Novel developments offer different non-invasive, user friendly examination methods, which could solve this controversy. To overcome these limitations we compare two recently validated, time-saving, low expense systems: the carotid Doppler echo-tracking system (Aloka SSD-5500) and oscillometric TensioClinic Arteriograph equipment. The aim of our study is to obtain local, regional and systemic arterial functional parameters by means of these non-invasive examination methods. Among the stiffness parameters the aortic Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV), and the wave reflection, measured as Augmentation Index (AIx) are expected to determine. For the assessment of clinical applications the arterial stiffness parameters are specified in healthy volunteers, in patients with either clinical or preclinical organ damage: patients with known ischemic heart disease (IHD) and with type II diabetes mellitus (DM).
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