Arterial Stiffness and Peripheral and Central Blood Pressure in Patients With Sickle Cell Disease

Abstract

Blood pressure (BP) in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) has been reported to be lower than in persons in the general population. Data on arterial stiffness, which is an important risk factor for the progression of BP, are inconclusive for this patient population. Forty-five adult patients with SCD and 40 controls matched for sex, age, and body mass index were studied. Brachial systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) were significantly lower in the patient group (SBP 115.1±13.8 mm Hg vs 121.9±11.3 mm Hg and DBP 68.5±8.0 mm Hg vs 80.6±9.1 mm Hg, P<.05, respectively). Augmentation index (AIx), however, was significantly higher in SCD patients compared with healthy controls (24.9±9.6 for patients vs 12.4±10.8 for controls, P<.001), while carotid femoral pulse wave velocity was comparable between the two groups. The study shows that mechanisms other than arterial elasticity are involved in the low BP phenotype of patients with SCD.

©2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Figures

Figure 1

Mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in the sickle cell disease (SCD) group and the control group. *Indicates statistical significance.

Figure 2

Mean arterial pressure (MAP) and pulse pressure (PP) in the sickle cell disease (SCD) group and the control group. *Indicates statistical significance

Figure 3

Mean central systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) in the sickle cell disease (SCD) group and the control group. *Indicates statistical significance.

Figure 4

Indexes of arterial stiffness in the sickle cell disease (SCD) group and the control group. AIx indicates augmentation index, PWV, pulse wave velocity.