Developing new ways to measure stiffness of arteries

The determination of local arterial stiffness and left ventricular load: a new non-invasive technique for calculating PWV and wave intensity

Dr Ashraf Khir is developing a new method to measure arterial stiffness, a condition that predisposes to high blood pressure and that increases the risk of heart and circulatory disease. Currently, arterial stiffness is estimated in the clinic using two measures - pulse wave velocity (PWV) and wave intensity analysis. For PWV, measurements need to be taken at two different locations and doctors must estimate the length of arteries, so it’s not very accurate. Whilst it is a popular method used in research, wave intensity analysis has limitations as a clinical tool. We need a better method that accurately measures arterial stiffness. Dr Khir has recently developed methods to measure PWV and wave intensity. In this project, Dr Khir will develop these methods at the aorta, the main artery that pumps blood around the body and where measurements can also indicate the load on the heart. He will ensure the measurements can be repeated, before validating the results in the laboratory and against the current gold standard method - magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI. Finally he will test his methods in healthy volunteers to find out if the technique can be used more widely. This research could reveal a new, non-invasive way to determine stiffness in different arteries. Because the new method uses ultrasound equipment currently available in almost every clinic, it could be adopted widely.