Individualization of transfer function in estimation of central aortic pressure from the peripheral pulse is not required in patients at rest.

Central aortic pressure gives better insight into ventriculo-arterial coupling and better prognosis of cardiovascular complications than peripheral pressures. Therefore transfer functions (TF), reconstructing aortic pressure from peripheral pressures, are of great interest. Generalized TFs (GTF) give useful results, especially in larger study populations, but detailed information on aortic pressure might be improved by individualization of the TF. We found earlier that the time delay, representing the travel time of the pressure wave between measurement site and aorta is the main determinant of the TF. Therefore, we hypothesized that the TF might be individualized (ITF) using this time delay. In a group of 50 patients at rest, aged 28–66 yr (43 men), undergoing diagnostic angiography, ascending aortic pressure was 119 ± 20/70 ± 9 mmHg (systolic/diastolic). Brachial pressure, almost simultaneously measured using catheter pullback, was 131 ± 18/67 ± 9 mmHg. We obtained brachial-to-aorta ITFs using time dela...