3  Pulse Pressure

Source: Homan TD, Bordes S, Cichowski E. Physiology, Pulse Pressure. In: StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing; 2020. Accessed August 17, 2020. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK482408/

\[ \text{Pulse Pressure} = \text{SBP} - \text{DBP} \]

• the difference between SBP and DBP

• normal PP is \(\approx 40 \ \text{mm Hg}\)

• narrow PP: \(\text{PP} < 0.25 \times \text{SBP}\)

  • e.g. if SBP is 100 mmHg, then a PP < 25 would be considered “narrow”
  • may indicate a “low-output” state in the setting of HF; associated with ↑ mortality in HFrEF

• wide PP: \(\text{PP} > 100 \ \text{mm Hg}\)

• Deviations in PP that are “normal”

  • Endurance runners may have an increased PP

  • Elderly pts may have a widened PP due to ↓ compliance of the large elastic aa. (“hardening of the arteries”)

    • LV contracts against stiffer, less compliant aa. → both SBP and DBP ↑ and widening of PP

• See Cardiogenic Shock (Chapter 42)