[The increase in the speed of the pulse wave is not associated with elevated central blood pressure in hypertensive patients with kidney disease].

Objective: To analyze the relationship between pulse wave velocity (PWV) and central blood pressure evaluated by augmentation index (AIx) in hypertensive patients with kidney disease.
Methods: 406 hypertensive patients with normal renal function and 72 with kidney disease. Arterial stiffness was estimated with the PWV and the AIx. We followed the 2007 European Guidelines of Hypertension criteria to assess the presence or absence of kidney disease.
Results: PWV was 8.98 ± 2.15 and 10.17 ± 3.01 m/s (p <0.05) and AIx 30.06% ± 12.46 and 30.23% ± 12.56 (p >0.05) in hypertensive patients with normal renal function and kidney disease, respectively. Multiple regression analysis showed the renal function as an important determinant of PWV, but not AIx.
Conclusion: In hypertensive patients with renal disease PWV is increased, but not the AIx. We believe that the AIx is not a reliable measure of arterial stiffness in hypertensive patients with kidney disease.