Arterial Stiffness Assessment by Shear Wave Elastography and Ultrafast Pulse Wave Imaging: Comparison with Reference Techniques in Normotensives and Hypertensives

Shear wave elastography and ultrafast imaging of the carotid artery pulse wave were performed in 27 normotensive participants and 29 age- and sex-matched patients with essential hypertension, and compared with reference techniques: carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) determined via arterial tonometry and carotid stiffness (carPWV) determined via echotracking. Shear wave speed in the carotid anterior (a-SWS) and posterior (p-SWS) walls were assessed throughout the cardiac cycle. Ultrafast PWV was measured in early systole (ufPWV-FW) and in end-systole (dicrotic notch, ufPWV-DN). Shear wave speed in the carotid anterior appeared to be the best candidate to evaluate arterial stiffness from ultrafast imaging. In univariate analysis, a-SWS was associated with carPWV (r = 0.56, p = 0.003) and carotid-to-femoral PWV (r = 0.66, p < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, a-SWS was independently associated with age (R² = 0.14, p = 0.02) and blood pressure (R² = 0.21, p = 0.004). Moreover, a-SWS increased with blood pressure throughout the cardiac cycle and did not differ between normotensive participants and patients with essential hypertension when compared at similar blood pressures.