Pulse wave regularity

Pulse wave regularity is not a recognized molecular target, receptor, or biological entity but appears to be a misnomer for pulse wave velocity (PWV), a physiological measurement of how quickly the blood pressure pulse propagates through arteries, primarily used to assess arterial stiffness. PWV increases with arterial stiffening due to aging, hypertension, or atherosclerosis, as stiffer vessels allow faster wave travel compared to elastic ones. Clinically, carotid-femoral PWV (cfPWV) is the gold standard, with values over 10 m/s indicating target organ damage per European Society of Hypertension guidelines, independently predicting cardiovascular events and mortality. It serves as a noninvasive biomarker for vascular health, aiding hypertension management and early detection of cardiovascular risk, though it is not directly modulated by drugs as a therapeutic target. No specific drugs target PWV itself; instead, antihypertensive therapies may indirectly improve it by reducing stiffness.

Other names

Pulse wave velocity (PWV)PWVcarotid-femoral PWV (cfPWV)brachial-ankle PWVaortic PWV