CVProfilor^® as an effective, non-invasive tool for measuring both large and small artery elasticity indices (how stiff or elastic a person’s arteries are). HDI has received FDA clearance to market the CVProfilor^® in the United States.

The meeting will be attended by several thousand cardiologists, internists and specialists in cardiovascular medicine from around the world, who come to review and consider the latest basic and clinical research progress in their field. This year’s meeting will feature more than 40 poster sessions that focus on arterial structure and compliance; six of these involve the use of the blood pressure waveform analysis method developed by Hypertension Diagnostics. This technology is the only commercially available research and medical technology that can provide both large and small artery elasticity indices by means of a simple, quick and non-invasive procedure.

“The research results at this conference support the importance of measuring arterial compliance,” said Greg H. Guettler, president of Hypertension Diagnostics, Inc. (HDI). “More and more studies are finding that arterial compliance is directly related to cardiovascular disease. Not only is our technology being used to discover this through clinical research, but now with the recently FDA-cleared CVProfilor^® D0-2020, our technology can be used to directly screen patients in physicians’ offices.”

Background on Studies to be Presented Relating to HDI’s Proprietary Technology 

“Assessment of Sequential Same Arm Agreement of Blood Pressure Measurements by a CVProfilor^® DO-2020 Versus a Baumanometer^® Mercury Sphygmomanometer”

This clinical trial using the CVProfilor^® System for physician’s offices was conducted at three sites: Medical College of Georgia (Augusta), Cornell University Medical Center (New York) and Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke’s Medical Center (Chicago). The research demonstrated that blood pressure values obtained using the CVProfilor^® were in reasonably good agreement with the “gold standard” sphygmomanometer.

“Arterial Elasticity Among Normotensive Subjects and Treated and Untreated Hypertensive Subjects”

This study evaluated 212 subjects using the CVProfilor^® DO-2020 and showed that there was a statistically significant decrease in both C1-large artery and C2-small artery elasticity indices as hypertension status worsened across four study groups. The authors concluded that arterial elasticity determinations have the potential for diagnostic use.

“Reduction in Small and Large Artery Compliance with Isometric Exercise”

Using the HDI/PulseWave™ CR-2000 Research System, researchers in the Departments of Medicine and Cardiology at the Millard Fillmore Hospital (Buffalo, NY) showed that a decrease in arterial compliance or elasticity, which occurs during isometric exercise, plays a major role in the pathogenesis of hypertension. In their study, they state that the increase in arterial stiffness during isometric exercise may have clinical implication and may contribute to the development of hypertension and other cardiovascular disease.

“Effects of Mental Stress on Large and Small Artery Compliance”

In this study by researchers in the Departments of Medicine and Cardiology at the Millard Fillmore Hospital (Buffalo, NY), it was demonstrated that mental stress significantly reduced large artery compliance, but not small artery compliance, even with mental stress of only two minutes duration. They suggest that this selective stiffening of the large arteries during mental stress may be a contributing factor in the development of hypertension and other cardiovascular disease.

“Effect of Modest Weight Loss on Arterial Compliance in Essential Hypertension”

Using the HDI/PulseWave™ CR-2000 Research System, Drs. Resnick (Cornell Medical Center, New York) and Lester (Wayne State University Vascular Center, Detroit) found that modest body weight loss which occurs in essential hypertensive patients also increases arterial compliance and may do so prior to the changes in blood pressure. They summarize their findings by stating that their data further support the clinical utility computerized pulse waveform analysis based arterial compliance measurements in assessing the peripheral vasculature in essential hypertension.

“Pulse Wave Analysis to Assess Vascular Compliance Changes in Renal Transplant Recipients”

Clinical investigators at the University of Pennsylvania’s (Philadelphia) Department of Medicine note that more than 50 percent of the deaths occurring in renal transplant recipients are related to cardiovascular disease due primarily to the effect of immunosuppressive drugs. They evaluated the effects of two such drugs in this study, and report in their poster session that one caused a decrease in the C1-large artery elasticity index. Their data suggests that there are differences in large vessel compliance between certain immunosuppressive therapies despite similar blood pressure control among patients.
About Hypertension Diagnostics, Inc.

Hypertension Diagnostics, Inc. designs, develops, manufactures and markets proprietary cardiovascular profiling systems for clinical and research applications. These systems carry the Underwriters Labs label and the CE Mark of quality, and they are marketed to physicians, other health care professionals and researchers by a direct sales force and via distributors throughout the world. In addition to providing blood pressure values, the systems non-invasively detect subtle changes in the compliance or elasticity of both large and small arteries which is a unique feature of HDI’s blood pressure waveform analysis technology. The system includes a custom designed Arterial PulseWave™ Sensor to capture waveform data as well as a printer which generates a CVProfile™ Report which can assist physicians in their clinical work.

Forward-looking statements in this press release are made under the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Company wishes to caution readers not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements and to recognize that the statements are not a prediction of actual future results. Actual results could differ materially from those presented and anticipated in the forward-looking statements due to the risks and uncertainties set forth in the Company's 2000 Annual Report on Form 10-KSB, as amended, under the caption “Risk Factors,'' as well as others not now anticipated. 

Hypertension Diagnostics, HDI/PulseWave™ and CVProfilor^® are trademarks of Hypertension Diagnostics, Inc. All rights reserved.

Contact: Greg H. Guettler, President