ABSTRACT
In hypertension, large arteries stiffen and pulse pressure increases due to wave reflections. A major reason for measuring arterial stiffness and wave reflections “routinely” in clinical practice in hypertensive patients comes from the recent demonstration that arterial stiffness and wave reflections have a predictive value for cardiovascular (CV) events (1,2). A large body of evidence has been published during the last decade concerning the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and pharmacology of large arteries in hypertension. Particularly, an expert consensus document has reviewed the methodological agreements for measuring arterial stiffness and wave reflections (1). This chapter will not address the issue of endothelial dysfunction and intima-media thickness.
