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This new, revised and updated edition takes into account the most recent advances in the understanding of human pathophysiology. The book presents the complex basic principles of vascular hemodynamics and its pathophysiologie in a direct and effective way, stressing the importance of the mechanical properties of large arteries in the origin of blood pressure. The readily understandable text, supported by helpful images, describes the elements that define blood pressure and explains such important concepts as pulse wave velocity, central blood pressure, reflected waves, and pulse pressure amplification. Entirely new chapters are included on the sympathetic nervous system and arterial stiffness and on the role played by arterial stiffness in influencing blood pressure variability. The book will enable the physician to answer some of the key questions encountered when addressing the problem of arterial hypertension in everyday clinical practice: How is blood pressure generated? How shouldblood pressure values be interpreted? Is systolic blood pressure of greater importance than diastolic blood pressure?

Recently, several studies have shown the crucial role of viscoelastic properties of the aorta and large arteries in determining blood pressure values. A good knowledge of cardiovascular pathophysiology and vascular hemodynamics is necessary to understand these phenomena. However, available texts on this topic are very complex and difficult for medical practitioners to understand. The aim of this book is to enable the reader to comprehend the relation between cardiovascular pathophysiology and vascular hemodynamics and to become familiar with the more recent guidelines. While very complex physical concepts are involved, care has been taken to ensure that the explanations are as straightforward as possible. Complex analyses are presented separately and can be skipped by the reader without impairment of understanding. It is envisaged that the knowledge imparted will prove invaluable in improving the approach to hypertensive patients.

Come si origina la pressione arteriosa? Come interpretare i valori pressori? È più importante la pressione sistolica o la diastolica? Questi sono solo alcuni degli interrogativi che si pone il medico quando affronta nella pratica clinica quotidiana il problema dell'ipertensione arteriosa. Questo libro intende presentare, in maniera immediata ed efficace, le complesse nozioni di base dell'emodinamica vascolare e della sua fisiopatologia, sottolineando l'importanza delle proprietà meccaniche delle grandi arterie nella genesi della pressione arteriosa. Con l'ausilio di numerose immagini e con linguaggio accessibile, il lettore è guidato alla scoperta degli elementi che determinano la pressione arteriosa, familiarizzando con i concetti di stiffness arteriosa, velocità dell'onda di polso, pressione centrale, onde riflesse e amplificazione della pressione.