Which hemodynamic finding is commonly seen in aortic regurgitation?

Which hemodynamic finding is commonly seen in aortic regurgitation?

• A. Narrow pulse pressure
• B. Wide pulse pressure
• C. Decreased pulse amplitude
• D. Pulsus alternans

Answer: (B)

In aortic regurgitation, blood leaks backward from the aorta into the left ventricle during diastole. This diastolic runoff lowers the aortic diastolic pressure while the left ventricle compensates by increasing stroke volume, which tends to raise the systolic pressure. The combination gives a high systolic pressure with a notably low diastolic pressure, producing a wide pulse pressure. This is often accompanied by a bounding, “water-hammer” pulse. Other choices don’t fit AR as well: narrow pulse pressure occurs with conditions like aortic stenosis or shock with low output; decreased pulse amplitude is a general finding of poor perfusion; pulsus alternans reflects severe LV systolic dysfunction with beat-to-beat variation in pulse. The hallmark in AR is the wide pulse pressure highlighted by the diastolic runoff.

In aortic regurgitation, blood leaks backward from the aorta into the left ventricle during diastole. This diastolic runoff lowers the aortic diastolic pressure while the left ventricle compensates by increasing stroke volume, which tends to raise the systolic pressure. The combination gives a high systolic pressure with a notably low diastolic pressure, producing a wide pulse pressure. This is often accompanied by a bounding, “water-hammer” pulse.

Other choices don’t fit AR as well: narrow pulse pressure occurs with conditions like aortic stenosis or shock with low output; decreased pulse amplitude is a general finding of poor perfusion; pulsus alternans reflects severe LV systolic dysfunction with beat-to-beat variation in pulse. The hallmark in AR is the wide pulse pressure highlighted by the diastolic runoff.