Aim: A novel arterial stiffness index, the cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI), has been proposed. To clarify the properties of CAVI, the effects of beraprost sodium (BPS), a prostaglandin (PG) I₂ analogue, which has a potent vasodilating effect, on CAVI were studied and comparing with brachialankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) in healthy volunteers.
Methods: Male volunteers (n=18, 46.3±4.2 yr) were enrolled in this study and administered BPS (40 µg). CAVI and baPWV were measured every hour for 4 hours.
Results: When BPS was administered to 18 healthy volunteers, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure fluctuated slightly, but the means did not change. CAVI significantly decreased in the 1st hour from 8.3±0.34 (mean±SE) to 7.9±0.34 (p<0.05) and this decrease persisted for 3 hours, whereas baPWV did not significantly change. ΔbaPWV each time was significantly correlated with both Δsystolic blood pressure and Δdiastolic blood pressure, but ΔCAVI did not correlate with either Δsystolic blood pressure (r=−0.12, p=0.38) or Δdiastolc blood pressure (r=−0.22, p=0.10).
Conclusions: Beraprost sodium did not decrease blood pressure, but decreased CAVI, whereas baPWV did not change. These results indicate that CAVI partly reflected the contraction of arterial smooth muscle cells.