A pilot study of photoplethysmographic peripheral pulse transit times in paediatric heart transplant recipients and healthy children

摘要: Previous studies have demonstrated increased arterial stiffness (AS) in paediatric heart transplant recipients (HTR) by using established SphygmoCor technology. The aim of this study was to assess pulse transit times at three different peripheral body sites HTR, and comparison healthy controls, relatively low-cost easy-to-perform photo plethysmography (PPG) PPG waveforms an electrocardiography timing reference were recorded from 12 HTR (age range 8-17 years; 5 males) 30 children 8-16 15 the right left ear lobes, index fingers, great toes. median values for PPG-pulse foot (PTTj) calculated over a period 60 beats, with sides averaged each segmental site. Toe PTTf significantly shorter (median 290 ms) compared controls (324 ms, p <; 0.05). No significant differences found finger PTTj Furthermore, toe correlated subject height both (ρ = 0.78, 0.01, slope 88 ms/m) 0.76, 0.001, 132 ms/m). A site is consistent AS results correlation analysis further corroborated finding.