Open AccessBlood Pressure Changes in the Leg on Standing
Author(s) -
Malhotra Arun,
Cohen Debbie,
Syms Charles,
Townsend Raymond R.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
the journal of clinical hypertension
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.909
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1751-7176
pISSN - 1524-6175
DOI - 10.1111/j.1524-6175.2002.00767.x
Subject(s) - medicine , supine position , blood pressure , ankle , cardiology , peripheral , arterial disease , surgery , vascular disease
Normotensive and hypertensive patients develop peripheral arterial disease. The authors hypothesized that significant changes in lower extremity blood pressures occur upon standing, which could play a role in the pathogenesis of peripheral arterial disease. Forty‐one subjects had blood pressure measurements performed in the arm and ankle in the supine and standing positions. The data show a marked increase in leg blood pressure on assuming the standing position, with mean increases of 65 mm Hg in systolic and 62 mm Hg in diastolic blood pressure in the lower extremities, compared with the arm on standing. In addition, the changes in diastolic pressure in the leg on standing were significantly correlated to height (r=0.47; p<0.002). These data reveal a previously unappreciated aspect of blood pressure, namely a large increase in lower extremity blood pressure values on standing, which may predispose to peripheral arterial disease