To The Editor: We read with interest the paper by S. Laurent et al1 dealing with structural and genetic bases of arterial stiffness. The authors reviewed data concerning the heritability of arterial stiffness and propose an integrated view of the structural and genetic determinants of arterial stiffness based on a candidate gene approach and recent studies on gene expression profile.1 It is well documented that large-artery stiffness is the main determinant of pulse pressure.2 In addition, aortic stiffness has independent predictive value for total and cardiovascular mortality, coronary morbidity and mortality,3 and fatal …