Ageing and ankle pulse pressure.
2010
Background: Pulse pressure (PP) is a marker of arterial stiffness. Ageing of the arterial
system is accompanied by atherosclerosis of coronary arteries and atherosclerosis of popliteal
artery. However, severe impairment of the brachial artery is rare. This study investigates
whether there is any significant inter-limb (brachial/ankle) PP difference.
Methods: Blood pressure was measured in a group of young and a group of old non-smoking
men; all were free from medication and disease with a mean age of 22 ± 1.3 and 59 ± 2 years
respectively. The blood pressure was taken while they were in a supine position on three separate
occasions. Lower limb pressure was measured by placing the cuff on the calf muscle. For auscultation
of Korotkoff sounds the stethoscope was placed on the posterior surface of the internal
malleolus. The mean of the second and third readings were rounded off and used for analysis.
Results: Significant differences were found between brachial and ankle PP in both groups
(p Conclusions: With the ageing of the arterial system, raised PP is more prominent in the
lower limb (e.g. ankle). Cuff measurement of blood pressure at this site may be a useful index
of peripheral PP changes with ageing. (Cardiol J 2010; 17, 2: 163-165)
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