Quantitive evaluation of the baroreflex sensitivity of an artery

There is no simple diagnostic method to measure the arterial behavior in the baroreflex system. Presently, we report the development of a method and associated hardware that enables the diagnosis of baroreflex sensitivity by measuring the responses of artery. In this system, the measurements are obtained by monitoring ECG and a pulse wave recorded from the radial artery. The arterial responses were measured in terms of the pulse wave velocity (PWV) calculated from the pulse wave transmission time (PTT) from the heart to the artery. Changes in the PTT in response to blood pressure changes were observed. A significant correlation was observed in the time sequence between blood pressure change and PTT change after calculating the delay time by cross-correlation. The slope of these parameter changes demonstrated the sensitivity of the baroreflex system of an artery. When tested clinically, decreased sensitivity of the baroreflex system in hypertensive patients was observed. This system may be useful when we consider the ideal treatment and follow-up of the patients with hypertension.