Radial artery pulse wave analysis for non-invasive assessment of coronary artery disease

BACKGROUND: Angiographically-normal coronary arteries are reported in 10-20% of patients undergoing diagnostic coronary angiography despite screening with risk factors and functional tests. We sought to validate and determine the clinical value of radial artery pulse wave analysis (PWA), a simple, quick and non-invasive marker of central artery stiffness and define its ability to predict coronary artery disease in high-risk patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 531 consecutive patients referred for elective coronary angiography, irrespective of previous co-morbidity, were assessed in a prospective, multicenter observational study [the Alternative Risk Markers in Coronary Artery Disease (ARM-CAD) study]. RESULTS: Mean age was 65±11years, 33% were women, 18% had impaired left-ventricular function and 22% a prior myocardial infarction. Angiography demonstrated normal coronary arteries in 20% of participants. The only independent associations with this outcome were younger age, female gender, absence of diabetes and PWA-derived central augmentation pressure