Abridged version of the expert consensus document on arterial stiffness.

Summary: In recent years great emphasis has been placed on the role of arterial stiffness in the development of cardiovascular diseases. The present article is an abridged version of an expert consensus document reporting the proceedings of several meetings of the European Network for Non Invasive Investigation of Large Arteries, and providing an updated and practical overview of the most relevant methodological aspects and clinical applications in this area. It provides recommendations for the determination of regional, local and systemic of arterial stiffness, and for the noninvasive determination of wave reflections. Clinical applications of arterial stiffness are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]