Figure 1.

Possible mechanisms linking arterial stiffness and atherosclerosis. Alteration of pulsatile hemodynamics by increased arterial stiffness is associated with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), reduced coronary perfusion and the damage of blood brain barrier (BBB), which leads to coronary and cerebral atherosclerosis. Endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, vascular remodeling, accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM), and shared common risk factors such as aging, hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia are also factors linking increased arterial stiffness and the development and progression of atherosclerosis. BBB, blood brain barrier; ECM, extracellular matrix; LVH, left ventricular hypertrophy.