Segmental aortic wall stiffness was calculated from intravascular ultrasound images and intravascular pressures in six pigs at normal and subnormal aortic pressures (21 sequences of pressures and areas before and after boli of intravenous nitroglycerin). The wall stiffness was expressed as the pressure-strain elastic modulus (Ep). The Ep was calculated from the formula: Ep = delta PR delta R-1 (P, pressure; R, radius) in two different ways. First from maximal and minimal values of pressure and area. Second as the slope of linear regression line of delta PR as a function of delta R from 29 simultaneous recorded pressures and images. The average Ep value for all sequences in the different segments was 0.58 +/- 0.55 10(5) Pa (Method 1) and 0.50 +/- 0.40 10(5) Pa (Method 2). Ep increased with the distance from the heart at normal aortic pressures. At subnormal aortic pressures after intravenous nitroglycerin this relationship was not so evident. At subnormal aortic pressures the calculated Ep values were significantly reduced in the lower half of the abdominal aorta. The phase lag, i.e. hysteresis, between pressure and diameter was demonstrated. Our study shows the applicability of intravascular ultrasound as a tool to evaluate arterial wall stiffness.