Vascular distensibility and compliance in salt-sensitive and salt-resistant borderline hypertension

Objective: To gain insight into the relationship between vascular compliance and sodium sensitivity. Design: Arterial and venous compliance was determined in 17 sodium-sensitive and 28 sodium-resistant, young, bordeline hypertensive males and in 10 age-matched normotensive controlsn during regular sodium intake. Methods: The carotid, femoral and brachial arteries were studied using a non-invasive ultrasound vessel wall movement fetector system, and venous compliance was determined using forearm strain-gauge plethysmography