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Reduced responsiveness of cutaneous microcirculation in essential hypertension - A pilot study

Lindstedt, Isak H. ; Edvinsson, Marie-Louise and Edvinsson, Lars LU (2006) In Blood Pressure 15(5). p.275-280
Abstract
Objective. Our hypothesis states that the reactivity of the cutaneous microcirculation is reduced in patients with hypertension compared with healthy subjects. The objective was to verify the hypothesis by measuring microvascular function in hypertensive patients. Design. The study was a controlled trial with two arms: 15 hypertensives and 15 normotensives were enrolled, aged 30-60 years, and in hypertensives, a diastolic blood pressure of > 90 mmHg. The hypertensive patients were compared with gender- and age-matched controls having a diastolic blood pressure < 90 mmHg. The patients were kept on their medication. Method. The local cutaneous forearm blood flow was measured by Laser-Doppler flowmetry. The blood flow response to local... (More)
Objective. Our hypothesis states that the reactivity of the cutaneous microcirculation is reduced in patients with hypertension compared with healthy subjects. The objective was to verify the hypothesis by measuring microvascular function in hypertensive patients. Design. The study was a controlled trial with two arms: 15 hypertensives and 15 normotensives were enrolled, aged 30-60 years, and in hypertensives, a diastolic blood pressure of > 90 mmHg. The hypertensive patients were compared with gender- and age-matched controls having a diastolic blood pressure < 90 mmHg. The patients were kept on their medication. Method. The local cutaneous forearm blood flow was measured by Laser-Doppler flowmetry. The blood flow response to local warming (44 degrees C), to the endothelium-dependent vasodilator acetylcholine (ACh), or to the endothelium-independent dilators sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) administered by iontophoresis were determined. Inflammatory markers and NT-pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels in plasma was also measured. Electrocardiograms (ECG) were evaluated and the subjects answered a lifestyle questionnaire. Results. The percentage change in vasodilator response to CGRP was significantly lower in the hypertensives compared with normotensives, 285% (95% CI 86-484) vs 764% (95% CI 366-1162) of baseline, p < 0.05. The change to local warming was 2191% (95% CI 1574-2807) in normotensives vs 1384% (95% CI 852-1917) in the hypertensives, p < 0.05. The vasodilator response to ACh was 1249% (95% CI 895-1602) in the normotensives and 873% (95% CI 610-1136) in the hypertensives. The vasodilator response to SNP in the normotensives was 771% (95% CI 436-1107) and 682% (95% Cl 416-948) in the hypertensive group. Plasma level of NT-proBNP was 90 ng/l (95% CI 35-145) in normotensives vs 285 ng/l (95% CI 70-499) in hypertensives (p=0.06). The ECGs showed a tendency towards left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in hypertensives. Conclusion. Patients with essential hypertension had significantly reduced microvascular dilator responses to CGRP and to local warming. Also, there was a tendency towards reduced responses to ACh. This points towards a generally weaker responsiveness of the cutaneous microvessels in hypertensives and could be a contributing factor to the development of high blood pressure. Patients with essential hypertension also had a tendency of higher plasma levels of NT-proBNP, which could be seen as an early sign of organ damage. (Less)
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
sodium nitroprusside, CGRP, iontophoresis, acetylcholine, hypertension, endothelial dysfunction
in
Blood Pressure
volume
15
issue
5
pages
275 - 280
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • wos:000243527500004
  • scopus:33847223816
ISSN
0803-7051
DOI
10.1080/08037050600996586
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
1710feb6-ff1a-4693-bcca-a2d90bff61ee (old id 677544)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 11:58:36
date last changed
2024-01-23 01:17:14
@article{1710feb6-ff1a-4693-bcca-a2d90bff61ee,
  abstract     = {{Objective. Our hypothesis states that the reactivity of the cutaneous microcirculation is reduced in patients with hypertension compared with healthy subjects. The objective was to verify the hypothesis by measuring microvascular function in hypertensive patients. Design. The study was a controlled trial with two arms: 15 hypertensives and 15 normotensives were enrolled, aged 30-60 years, and in hypertensives, a diastolic blood pressure of &gt; 90 mmHg. The hypertensive patients were compared with gender- and age-matched controls having a diastolic blood pressure &lt; 90 mmHg. The patients were kept on their medication. Method. The local cutaneous forearm blood flow was measured by Laser-Doppler flowmetry. The blood flow response to local warming (44 degrees C), to the endothelium-dependent vasodilator acetylcholine (ACh), or to the endothelium-independent dilators sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) administered by iontophoresis were determined. Inflammatory markers and NT-pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels in plasma was also measured. Electrocardiograms (ECG) were evaluated and the subjects answered a lifestyle questionnaire. Results. The percentage change in vasodilator response to CGRP was significantly lower in the hypertensives compared with normotensives, 285% (95% CI 86-484) vs 764% (95% CI 366-1162) of baseline, p &lt; 0.05. The change to local warming was 2191% (95% CI 1574-2807) in normotensives vs 1384% (95% CI 852-1917) in the hypertensives, p &lt; 0.05. The vasodilator response to ACh was 1249% (95% CI 895-1602) in the normotensives and 873% (95% CI 610-1136) in the hypertensives. The vasodilator response to SNP in the normotensives was 771% (95% CI 436-1107) and 682% (95% Cl 416-948) in the hypertensive group. Plasma level of NT-proBNP was 90 ng/l (95% CI 35-145) in normotensives vs 285 ng/l (95% CI 70-499) in hypertensives (p=0.06). The ECGs showed a tendency towards left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in hypertensives. Conclusion. Patients with essential hypertension had significantly reduced microvascular dilator responses to CGRP and to local warming. Also, there was a tendency towards reduced responses to ACh. This points towards a generally weaker responsiveness of the cutaneous microvessels in hypertensives and could be a contributing factor to the development of high blood pressure. Patients with essential hypertension also had a tendency of higher plasma levels of NT-proBNP, which could be seen as an early sign of organ damage.}},
  author       = {{Lindstedt, Isak H. and Edvinsson, Marie-Louise and Edvinsson, Lars}},
  issn         = {{0803-7051}},
  keywords     = {{sodium nitroprusside; CGRP; iontophoresis; acetylcholine; hypertension; endothelial dysfunction}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{5}},
  pages        = {{275--280}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Blood Pressure}},
  title        = {{Reduced responsiveness of cutaneous microcirculation in essential hypertension - A pilot study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08037050600996586}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/08037050600996586}},
  volume       = {{15}},
  year         = {{2006}},
}