Peripheral and Central Blood Pressure and Pulse Wave Velocity in Adults with Corrected CoA

All articles of this category (opens in new window) Background: Patients with aortic coarctation (CoA) often undergo early surgical or interventional correction but still face an elevated long-term risk of cardiovascular disease, including hypertension, myocardial infarction, stroke, and heart failure. This study analyzed vascular parameters to identify risk factors specific to adults with corrected CoA. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 25 adults with corrected CoA and no significant residual gradient were matched with 25 healthy controls by age, sex, and body mass index (BMI). Participants were 18 to 30 years old. Measurements included pulse wave velocity (PWV), central blood pressure, and peripheral blood pressure. Results: Peripheral systolic blood pressure in the right upper limb (132 vs. 119 mm Hg; p = 0.0001) and mean arterial pressure on the right side (92 vs. 88 mm Hg; p = 0.005) were significantly higher in the CoA group. Central systolic blood pressure on the right side was also elevated (130.9 vs. 124.8 mm Hg; p = 0.022; 95% CI: 0.16–12.03). In contrast, the left-sided measurement showed no significant difference (0.47 mm Hg; p = 0.440; 95% CI: −5.90 to 6.84). PWV did not differ significantly between groups (5.3 m/s vs. 5.2 m/s; p = 0.12; 95% CI: −0.085 to 0.319). Among patients with CoA, central systolic blood pressure on the right side strongly correlated with PWV (Spearman’s ρ = 0.875, p < 0.0001). Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that individuals with corrected CoA show prestenotic signs of increased arterial stiffness and structural changes of the vascular walls on the right side. These alterations were detectable despite good surgical outcomes. As the right side reflects the heart and the ascending aorta, these alterations may partly explain the elevated cardiovascular risk in this patient group. In addition, strong significant associations were observed between vascular parameters, highlighting the interrelation of central hemodynamics and arterial stiffness. The observed findings warrant further investigation in larger cohorts. Publication History Article published online: 17 February 2026 © 2026. Thieme. All rights reserved. Georg Thieme Verlag KG Oswald-Hesse-Straße 50, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany