jerky pulse
Last reviewed 01/2018
The arterial pulse in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is described as jerky.
The pressure wave is characterised by:
- a rapid upstroke due to the vigorous contraction of the hypertrophic left ventricle
- as the volume of the left ventricle decreases there is a sudden obstruction to the left ventricular outflow
- outflow obstruction results in a rapid fall in arterial pressure