Abstract
AIM: We aimed to investigate the effects of a single carbon dioxide (CO(2)) treatment on arterial stiffness by monitoring the changes of aortic pulse-wave velocity (PWV) and aortic augmentation index (AIXao), which are indicators of arterial stiffness. PATIENTS AND METHODS: PWV and AIXao were measured by an invasively validated oscillometric device. The measurements of stiffness parameters were performed before the CO(2) treatment, and at 1, 4 and 8 h after the first treatment. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients were included. No significant changes were found in PWV. AIXao decreased significantly 1 h and 4 h after CO(2) treatment compared to baseline values (p=0.034 and p<0.001). AIXao increased 8 h after the CO(2) treatment, but remained significantly lower than baseline AIXao values (p=0.016). CONCLUSION: CO(2) treatment is capable of reducing peripheral vascular resistance. We hypothesize that CO(2) is not only a temporal vasodilator but is also capable of activating vasodilation pathways.