Evaluation of the central arterial pressure in patients with bronchial asthma

The purpose of this work was to study the central arterial pressure (CAP) and its correlation with peripheral arterial pressure (PAP) and aortic stiffness in patients with bronchial asthma (BА). We examined 45 asthmatic patients and 25 healthy volunteers using noninvasive arteriography (TensioClinic TL1 arteriograph, TensioMed, Hungary). Aortic stiffness parameters and aortic systolic arterial pressure (SAP) were measured. We estimated a difference between the central SAP and the peripheral SAP (ΔSAP) and calculated index of CAP to PAP conformity (IC). According to the indirect arteriography, the central (aortic) SAP was 20 to 40 % higher in majority of patients with exacerbation of severe and moderate BА compared to the normal level. During BА exacerbation, ΔSAP was significantly decreased and IC was increased in comparison with the healthy persons in whom ΔSAP was 10.2 ± 2.1 mm Hg. This indicates abnormal CAP/PAP ratio in BA exacerbation. In stable BA, CAP, PAP, ΔSAP, and IC did not differ from control values; this assumes transitory character of hemodynamic disorders in BA exacerbation. The degree of increase in aortic SAP during BA exacerbation is thought to be closely connected with abnormal mechanical properties of the arterial walls. This was confirmed by significant correlations between aortic SAP and hypoxemia, systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, and hyponitrooxidemia. These factors could play an important role in the pathogenesis of growth in aortic SAP in BA patients.