Final answer:
Aortic regurgitation causes widened pulse pressure due to the increased volume of blood returning to the left ventricle, leading to elevated systolic pressure and decreased diastolic pressure. This condition disrupts normal arterial expansion and recoil, resulting in a greater difference between the systolic and diastolic pressures.
Step-by-step explanation:
Why Does Aortic Regurgitation Have Widened Pulse Pressure?
Aortic regurgitation is characterized by the backflow of blood from the aorta into the left ventricle during diastole. This backflow increases the volume of blood the left ventricle must pump out during systole, leading to a higher stroke volume. Consequently, this results in an elevated systolic blood pressure. However, as the regurgitated volume contributes to a reduction in forward flow, there is a decrease in diastolic blood pressure, resulting in a widened pulse pressure, which is the difference between systolic and diastolic pressures. A normal pulse pressure is typically between 30-40 mm Hg, but regurgitation can substantially widen this value.
High or wide pulse pressure can result from various disorders, including aortic regurgitation. The condition can lead to chronic high resting pulse pressures which threaten the integrity of vital organs such as the heart, brain, and kidneys. As the arteries expand to accommodate the increased blood volume and then recoil, aortic regurgitation disrupts this normal process by lessening the recoil and therefore reducing diastolic pressure, further expanding pulse pressure.