Objective. To measure pulse wave velocity (PWV) in various arterial vessels of the arm and to assess its dependence on the blood pressure (BP) and hemodynamic disorders simulating the conditions of ischemia/reperfusion.

Materials and methods. Sphygmography and photoplethysmography were used to measure PWV in 70 people (19—40 years old) 27 of which complained of an increased blood pressure during 6 months. PWV was measured at the following arterial segments: carotid — radial artery (PWVc-r), brachial — radial artery, radial artery — arteries and arterioles of the thumb. PWV was measured at rest and during the blood flow recovery after compression of the brachial artery by external pressure of the cuff for pressure measurement.

Results. The initial value of PWVc-r was 6.3 [5.55—6.95] m/s. In participants with blood pressure at the time of the study ³140/90 mmHg, PWVc-r was higher than in participants with lower blood pressure and amounted to 6.7 [6.20—7.35] m/s (p<0.05). Between the values of systolic blood pressure and PWVc-r, there was a positive weak correlation (r=0.28). No correlation between the PWVc-r and the value of diastolic blood pressure was revealed. Decreased PWV values during the 1st minute of blood flow restoration after a 5-minutes ischemia of the forearm and hand tissues were found for all arterial segments. The PWV returned to its initial values in 5 minutes.

Conclusion. The obtained data shows an increase in PWV due to changes in the properties of the arterial vessel wall under increased blood pressure for a long time and a possibility of decreased PWV for a short time presumably resulting from the vasodilating factors influence that has formed during the tissue ischemia and the flow-dependent reaction of the vascular endothelium during reperfusion.