Vascular compliance after nitroprusside in hypertension

The effect of sodium nitroprusside (NP) infusion on systemic arterial compliance in hypertensive subjects was assessed using pulse-contour analysis (PCA). Seven male patients aged 41 to 71 years (mean age 59 years) were studied after 30 minutes rest in the supine position and during continuous NP infusion. Proximal arterial compliance, C1, and distal arterial compliance, C2, were determined by analyzing the diastolic portion of a brachial artery pressure pulse and cardiac output (CO). During NP infusion, mean arterial pressure (MAP) decreased by 19% (p >