Baroreceptor Sensitivity Assessed with the Finger Pulse Wave Alpha Index, Light Reflection Rheography and Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring at Two Minutes

摘要

In the research of cardiac autonomic control the study of baroreflexes represents an important part. The research entered in a new era with the introduction of non-invasive beat-to-beat blood pressure (BP) monitoring.In this study we used an original device, a light reflection rheograph (LRR), that detects the pulse wave amplitude in the finger tip [1]. We couppled the BP mesured in the brachial artery with the characteristics of the finger pulse wave and calculated.the baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) and the correlation index (alpha index) of the RR intervals and pulse amplitude (PA) spectrum.To increase the variations of the PA and RR intervals we used the head-up tilt testing (HUTT), a shortened protocol, as a stress test.The obtained parameters give us a much better understandig of the function of the cardiovascular autonomic control in each individual. The BRS is a very important prognostic factor in diseases like myocardial infarction, diabetes, chronic heart failure, Parkinson syndrome and others.The article presents the principles of assessing BRS by our method and the description of the used mathematical formula. Also, we present arguments regarding the fact that, this low budget device provides results representing a good approximation for clinical use and comparable to those provided by the expensive equipment of physiological laboratories.