Pulse pressure is an independent cardiovascular risk factor, mainly for myocardial infarction. The predictive value of pulse pressure is observed not only in hypertensive subjects above 50 years but also in patients with congestive heart failure, myocardial dysfunction and recurrent myocardial infarction. Treated hypertensive subjects are also at risk since, in many cases, diastolic blood pressure is normalized whereas systolic blood pressure remains elevated, thus leading to the picture of isolated systolic hypertension despite antihypertensive treatment.