Plenary Lecture

Arterial Stiffness - Current Issues

Associate Professor Ioana Mozos
Department of Functional Sciences - Pathophysiology
“Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy
Timisoara, Romania
E-mail: ioanamozos@umft.ro

Abstract: Arterial stiffness is a marker of vascular dysfunction, organ damage, subclinical atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk. It is significantly associated with cardiovascular risk and mortality, aging and several diseases.
The session includes a description of the main factors and mechanisms associated with arterial stiffening in aging patients, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, diabetes mellitus and systemic autoimmune diseases.
The pulse wave velocity and augmentation index were identified as valuable, reliable, simple and inexpensive markers for arterial stiffness, suitable for clinical and epidemiological studies. Arterial stiffness can be assessed using several devices: oscillometric, tonometric or plethysmographic and can be measured at the systemic, regional or local level.
The most important adverse effect of arterial stiffening is an elevated left ventricular afterload, with left ventricular hypertrophy and impaired coronary perfusion.

Brief Biography of the Speaker: Dr I. Mozos graduated 1992 the “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy from Timisoara, Romania and holds a PhD from the same University. Since 1998, she served at the Pathophysiology Department as Assistant professor, Lecturer and, lately, as Associate Professor. Her research interests include: ventricular arrhythmia risk, QT interval, late ventricular potentials, body surface mapping, myocardial infarction, atherosclerosis, and hypertension. She published 31 full-text articles (6 in ISI journals), 61 ISI abstracts, 16 book-chapters, 4 books and has 11 itations.