Purpose: To date, regional arterial stiffness can be easily evaluated using pOpmetre^® (Axelife SAS – France), a new device measuring the pulse wave transit time (TT) between the finger (TTf) and the toe (TTt). The aim was to evaluate the relationship between the pOpmetre^® indices and the presence of carotid plaques.

Methods: In 66 consecutive patients with risk factors (40 men aged 54± 2 years; 26 women aged 49 ± 3 years), the difference between TTt and TTf (Dt-f) and the pulse wave velocity (PWVtf = Constant^*Height_Patient / Dt-f in m/s) were measured by pOpmetre^®. Doppler ultrasound imaging assessed presence of carotid plaques. The local aortic stiffness (AoStiff) was evaluated by the Physioflow® system.

Results: No statistical difference was found between the group of patients with carotid plaques (n=23) and the rest of patients for Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI: 1.13±0.02 vs 1.17±0.03), systolic and diastolic blood pressure (83.8±2.1 vs 86.2±2.9; 131.2±2.7 vs 137.3±3.7). The first group was older than the second one (59 ± 2 yrs vs 49 ± 2 yrs, p <0.002) with a larger intima media thickness (0.70 ± 0.02 vs 0.63±0.01, p=0.003), a higher AoStiff and PWVtf (10±1.0 vs 8±1.0 m/s, p<0.03; 10.97±0.97 vs 8.84±0.43 m/s, p<0.02) and a shorter Dt-f (57.9 ± 6.2 vs 70.4 ± 3.2 ms, p<0.02). PWVtf (r=0.49, p<0.0001) and Dt-f (r=0.54, p<0.0001) were correlated with age.

Conclusion: Although we found no difference in ABI and arterial pressure, the data reveals an increased in local and peripheral arterial stiffness (pOpmètre®) for patients with carotid plaques.