AN ELEVATED PULSE PRESSURE: A MAJOR RISK FACTOR FOR CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES

Pulse pressure (PP) is a predictor and major risk factor for cardiovascular (CV) diseases as left ventricular hypertrophy, myocardial infarction, carotid hypertrophy, atherosclerosis, congestive heart failure and stroke as well as chronic renal failure progression. PP has been proved a strong forecaster of CV risk, particularly when it is higher than 60 mm Hg and more strongly relates to carotid hypertrophy and extent of atherosclerosis than systolic pressure. Isolated systolic hypertension (ISH) is common among the elderly and is accompanied by elevated pulse pressure. However, treatment of ISH may further raise the PP if diastolic pressure is lowered to a greater extent than systolic pressure. Several drugs for hypertension have the side effect of increasing resting PP irreversibly, other antihypertensive drugs, such as ACE inhibitors, have been shown to lower the PP. Various approaches made by researchers for the maintenance of normal PP to reduce the mortality caused due to CV events based on the abnormal PP. We briefly review the therapeutic consequences for the attenuation of elevated PP associated with various CV eventsKEYWORDSPulse pressure, Cardiovascular diseases, Arterial stiffness, Antihypertensive therap