Widened Pulse Pressure and Anemia

[Dorsh18]

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Hello all, first time post.

I am currently in my cardiovascular block and I am having difficulty understanding why anemia results in a widened pulse pressure. I understand increased CO secondary to anemia raises systolic BP, but isn't this a compensatory mechanism for decreased TPR? I don't understand why CO would "overcompensate" for the decreased TPR and lead to an overall elevation of systolic BP.

Thanks,
Newbie.

 

[Psai]

Maybe decreased viscosity so vessels move more

 

[VincentAdultman]

In before lockage.

 

[aprilfools]

Decreased viscosity-->decreased SVR-->increased SV.

Pulse pressure is directly proportional to SV (and inversely proportional to compliance-for completeness's sake, but not relevant here).



Try to separate out the concepts of systolic pressure and pulse pressure. You can have a dramatic increase in pulse pressure with a modest or nonresistant increase in systolic pressure (think of age-related arteriosclerosis).

 

[GoSpursGo]

This thread was previously locked for "homework help." However, it seems like this is less homework help, and more a general discussion regarding medical concepts; while we discourage "homework help" in the pre-health forums, where the questions usually focus on basic biology/physics/etc, it's OK to have these kinds of threads in the medical school forums.

Accordingly, this thread is being re-opened.