Interindividual relationships between blood pressure and cerebral blood flow variability with intact and blunted cerebrovascular control

2013 ◽  
Vol 114 (7) ◽  
pp. 888-895 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-Chieh Tzeng ◽  
Braid A. MacRae

The relationships between blood pressure variability (BPV) and cerebral blood flow variability (CFV) across individuals in the presence of intact and blunted cerebrovascular control are poorly understood. This study sought to characterize the interindividual associations between spontaneous BPV and CFV under conditions of normal and blunted [calcium channel blockade (CCB)] cerebrovascular control in healthy humans. We analyzed blood pressure and flow velocity data from 12 subjects treated with CCB (60 mg oral nimodipine) and 11 subjects treated with a placebo pill. Spontaneously occurring fluctuations in mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and middle cerebral artery flow velocity (MCAvmean; transcranial Doppler) were characterized using power spectral and transfer function analysis in the very-low- (0.02–0.07 Hz), low- (0.07–0.20 Hz), and high-frequency (0.20–0.40 Hz) ranges. Across our study sample, MAP and MCAvmean power were positively correlated in all three frequency ranges, both before ( R2 = 0.34–0.67, all P < 0.01) and after CCB ( R2 = 0.53–0.61, all P < 0.02). Compared with placebo, CCB reduced very-low-frequency MAP ( P < 0.05) and MCAvmean power ( P < 0.01) and the low-frequency cross-spectral phase angle ( P < 0.05). The magnitude of change in MAP and MCAvmean power with CCB (i.e., change scores) was positively related in the very-low-frequency range. Collectively, these findings indicate that CFV may be an explanatory factor in the association between elevated BPV and adverse cerebrovascular outcomes and support the possibility of using CCB to improve hemodynamic stability under resting conditions.

2004 ◽  
Vol 106 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-162 ◽  
Author(s):  
Penelope J. EAMES ◽  
John F. POTTER ◽  
Ronney B. PANERAI

Transfer function analysis has become one of the main techniques to study the dynamic relationship between cerebral blood flow and arterial blood pressure, but the influence of different respiratory rates on cerebral blood flow has not been fully investigated. In 14 healthy volunteers, middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity, recorded using transcranial Doppler ultrasound, non-invasive beat-to-beat Finapres blood pressure, ECG and end-tidal CO2 (PETCO2) levels were recorded with subjects resting supine and breathing spontaneously or at controlled rates of 6, 10 and 15 breaths/min. Transfer function analysis and impulse and step responses were computed at each respiratory rate. PETCO2 levels tended to fall slightly during paced respiration, especially at 15 breaths/min. Controlled breathing rates did not alter transfer function analysis in the frequency range below 0.08 Hz but, above this frequency, the coherence function contained significant peaks corresponding to the respiratory frequencies. The impulse response was similar at all breathing rates, but the step response was characteristic of more efficient autoregulation with reduced PETCO2 levels associated with increasing respiratory rate. The effects of breathing rate and rhythmicity and PETCO2 must be considered in studies of cerebral autoregulation.


2010 ◽  
Vol 299 (1) ◽  
pp. R55-R61 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. C. S. Lewis ◽  
G. Atkinson ◽  
S. J. E. Lucas ◽  
E. J. M. Grant ◽  
H. Jones ◽  
...  

Epidemiological data indicate that the risk of neurally mediated syncope is substantially higher in the morning. Syncope is precipitated by cerebral hypoperfusion, yet no chronobiological experiment has been undertaken to examine whether the major circulatory factors, which influence perfusion, show diurnal variation during a controlled orthostatic challenge. Therefore, we examined the diurnal variation in orthostatic tolerance and circulatory function measured at baseline and at presyncope. In a repeated-measures experiment, conducted at 0600 and 1600, 17 normotensive volunteers, aged 26 ± 4 yr (mean ± SD), rested supine at baseline and then underwent a 60° head-up tilt with 5-min incremental stages of lower body negative pressure until standardized symptoms of presyncope were apparent. Pretest hydration status was similar at both times of day. Continuous beat-to-beat measurements of cerebral blood flow velocity, blood pressure, heart rate, stroke volume, cardiac output, and end-tidal Pco2 were obtained. At baseline, mean cerebral blood flow velocity was 9 ± 2 cm/s (15%) lower in the morning than the afternoon ( P < 0.0001). The mean time to presyncope was shorter in the morning than in the afternoon (27.2 ± 10.5 min vs. 33.1 ± 7.9 min; 95% CI: 0.4 to 11.4 min, P = 0.01). All measurements made at presyncope did not show diurnal variation ( P > 0.05), but the changes over time (from baseline to presyncope time) in arterial blood pressure, estimated peripheral vascular resistance, and α-index baroreflex sensitivity were greater during the morning tests ( P < 0.05). These data indicate that tolerance to an incremental orthostatic challenge is markedly reduced in the morning due to diurnal variations in the time-based decline in blood pressure and the initial cerebral blood flow velocity “reserve” rather than the circulatory status at eventual presyncope. Such information may be used to help identify individuals who are particularly prone to orthostatic intolerance in the morning.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1984 ◽  
Vol 73 (5) ◽  
pp. 737-737
Author(s):  
JEFFREY M. PERLMAN ◽  
JOSEPH J. VOLPE

In Reply.— Marshall misread a critical piece of information in the text. His interpretation of the data would be correct, if the intracranial pressure, arterial blood pressure, and cerebral blood flow velocity changes occurred simultaneously. However, as we stated in the text (see section on "Temporal Features of Changes with Suctioning"), the intracranial pressure fell to base-line values immediately following suctioning, whereas the changes in arterial blood pressure and cerebral blood flow velocity occurred more slowly over an approximately two-minute period.


2001 ◽  
Vol 280 (5) ◽  
pp. H2162-H2174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronney B. Panerai ◽  
Suzanne L. Dawson ◽  
Penelope J. Eames ◽  
John F. Potter

The influence of different types of maneuvers that can induce sudden changes of arterial blood pressure (ABP) on the cerebral blood flow velocity (CBFV) response was studied in 56 normal subjects (mean age 62 yr, range 23–80). ABP was recorded in the finger with a Finapres device, and bilateral recordings of CBFV were performed with Doppler ultrasound of the middle cerebral arteries. Recordings were performed at rest (baseline) and during the thigh cuff test, lower body negative pressure, cold pressor test, hand grip, and Valsalva maneuver. From baseline recordings, positive and negative spontaneous transients were also selected. Stability of Pco 2 was monitored with transcutaneous measurements. Dynamic autoregulatory index (ARI), impulse, and step responses were obtained for 1-min segments of data for the eight conditions by fitting a mathematical model to the ABP-CBFV baseline and transient data (Aaslid's model) and by the Wiener-Laguerre moving-average method. Impulse responses were similar for the right- and left-side recordings, and their temporal pattern was not influenced by type of maneuver. Step responses showed a sudden rise at time 0 and then started to fall back to their original level, indicating an active autoregulation. ARI was also independent of the type of maneuver, giving an overall mean of 4.7 ± 2.9 ( n = 602 recordings). Amplitudes of the impulse and step responses, however, were significantly influenced by type of maneuver and were highly correlated with the resistance-area product before the sudden change in ABP ( r = −0.93, P < 0.0004). These results suggest that amplitude of the CBFV step response is sensitive to the point of operation of the instantaneous ABP-CBFV relationship, which can be shifted by different maneuvers. Various degrees of sympathetic nervous system activation resulting from different ABP-stimulating maneuvers were not reflected by CBFV dynamic autoregulatory responses within the physiological range of ABP.


2011 ◽  
Vol 110 (4) ◽  
pp. 917-925 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory S. H. Chan ◽  
Philip N. Ainslie ◽  
Chris K. Willie ◽  
Chloe E. Taylor ◽  
Greg Atkinson ◽  
...  

The Windkessel properties of the vasculature are known to play a significant role in buffering arterial pulsations, but their potential importance in dampening low-frequency fluctuations in cerebral blood flow has not been clearly examined. In this study, we quantitatively assessed the contribution of arterial Windkessel (peripheral compliance and resistance) in the dynamic cerebral blood flow response to relatively large and acute changes in blood pressure. Middle cerebral artery flow velocity (MCAV; transcranial Doppler) and arterial blood pressure were recorded from 14 healthy subjects. Low-pass-filtered pressure-flow responses (<0.15 Hz) during transient hypertension (intravenous phenylephrine) and hypotension (intravenous sodium nitroprusside) were fitted to a two-element Windkessel model. The Windkessel model was found to provide a superior goodness of fit to the MCAV responses during both hypertension and hypotension ( R2 = 0.89 ± 0.03 and 0.85 ± 0.05, respectively), with a significant improvement in adjusted coefficients of determination ( P < 0.005) compared with the single-resistance model ( R2 = 0.62 ± 0.06 and 0.61 ± 0.08, respectively). No differences were found between the two interventions in the Windkessel capacitive and resistive gains, suggesting similar vascular properties during pressure rise and fall episodes. The results highlight that low-frequency cerebral hemodynamic responses to transient hypertension and hypotension may include a significant contribution from the mechanical properties of vasculature and, thus, cannot solely be attributed to the active control of vascular tone by cerebral autoregulation. The arterial Windkessel should be regarded as an important element of dynamic cerebral blood flow modulation during large and acute blood pressure perturbation.


1998 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 311-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Terry Bo-Jau Kuo ◽  
Chang-Ming Chern ◽  
Wen-Yung Sheng ◽  
Wen-Jang Wong ◽  
Han-Hwa Hu

We applied frequency domain analysis to detect and quantify spontaneous fluctuations in the blood flow velocity of the middle cerebral artery (MCAFV). Instantaneous MCAFV of normal volunteers was detected using transcranial Doppler sonography. Spectral and transfer function analyses of MCAFV and arterial blood pressure (ABP) were performed by fast Fourier transform. We found the fluctuations in MCAFV, like ABP, could be diffracted into three components at specific frequency ranges, designated as high-frequency (HF, 0.15 to 0.4 Hz), low-frequency (LF, 0.04 to 0.15 Hz), and very low-frequency (VLF, 0.016 to 0.04 Hz) components. The HF and LF components of MCAFV exhibited high coherence with those of ABP, indicating great similarity of MCAFV and ABP fluctuations within the two frequency ranges. However, it was not the case for the VLF component. Transfer function analysis revealed that the ABP-MCAFV phase angle was frequency-dependent in the LF range ( r = −0.79, P < 0.001) but not in the HF range. The time delay between LF fluctuations of ABP and those of MCAFV was evaluated as 2.1 seconds. We conclude that in addition to traditional B-wave equivalents, there are at least two different mechanisms for MCAFV fluctuations: the HF and LF fluctuations of MCAFV are basically secondary to those of ABP, and cerebral autoregulation may operate efficiently in LF rather than HF range. Frequency domain analysis offers an opportunity to explore the nature and underlying mechanism of dynamic regulation in cerebral circulation.


2014 ◽  
Vol 116 (6) ◽  
pp. 645-653 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron A. Phillips ◽  
Andrei V. Krassioukov ◽  
Philip N. Ainslie ◽  
Darren E. R. Warburton

Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) above the T6 spinal segment suffer from orthostatic intolerance. How cerebral blood flow (CBF) responds to orthostatic challenges in SCI is poorly understood. Furthermore, it is unclear how interventions meant to improve orthostatic tolerance in SCI influence CBF. This study aimed to examine 1) the acute regional CBF responses to rapid changes in blood pressure (BP) during orthostatic stress in individuals with SCI and able-bodied (AB) individuals; and 2) the effect of midodrine (alpha1-agonist) on orthostatic tolerance and CBF regulation in SCI. Ten individuals with SCI >T6, and 10 age- and sex-matched AB controls had beat-by-beat BP and middle and posterior cerebral artery blood velocity (MCAv, PCAv, respectively) recorded during a progressive tilt-test to quantify the acute CBF response and orthostatic tolerance. Dynamic MCAv and PCAv to BP relationships were evaluated continuously in the time domain and frequency domain (via transfer function analysis). The SCI group was tested again after administration of 10 mg midodrine to elevate BP. Coherence (i.e., linearity) was elevated in SCI between BP-MCAv and BP-PCAv by 35% and 22%, respectively, compared with AB, whereas SCI BP-PCAv gain (i.e., magnitudinal relationship) was reduced 30% compared with AB (all P < 0.05). The acute (i.e., 0–30 s after tilt) MCAv and PCAv responses were similar between groups. In individuals with SCI, midodrine led to improved PCAv responses 30–60 s following tilt (10 ± 3% vs. 4 ± 2% decline; P < 0.05), and a 59% improvement in orthostatic tolerance ( P < 0.01). The vertebrobasilar region may be particularly susceptible to hypoperfusion in SCI, leading to increased orthostatic intolerance.


2014 ◽  
Vol 116 (12) ◽  
pp. 1614-1622 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. Smirl ◽  
Y. C. Tzeng ◽  
B. J. Monteleone ◽  
P. N. Ainslie

We examined the hypothesis that changes in the cerebrovascular resistance index (CVRi), independent of blood pressure (BP), will influence the dynamic relationship between BP and cerebral blood flow in humans. We altered CVRi with (via controlled hyperventilation) and without [via indomethacin (INDO, 1.2 mg/kg)] changes in PaCO2. Sixteen subjects (12 men, 27 ± 7 yr) were tested on two occasions (INDO and hypocapnia) separated by >48 h. Each test incorporated seated rest (5 min), followed by squat-stand maneuvers to increase BP variability and improve assessment of the pressure-flow dynamics using linear transfer function analysis (TFA). Beat-to-beat BP, middle cerebral artery velocity (MCAv), posterior cerebral artery velocity (PCAv), and end-tidal Pco2 were monitored. Dynamic pressure-flow relations were quantified using TFA between BP and MCAv/PCAv in the very low and low frequencies through the driven squat-stand maneuvers at 0.05 and 0.10 Hz. MCAv and PCAv reductions by INDO and hypocapnia were well matched, and CVRi was comparably elevated ( P < 0.001). During the squat-stand maneuvers (0.05 and 0.10 Hz), the point estimates of absolute gain were universally reduced, and phase was increased under both conditions. In addition to an absence of regional differences, our findings indicate that alterations in CVRi independent of PaCO2 can alter cerebral pressure-flow dynamics. These findings are consistent with the concept of CVRi being a key factor that should be considered in the correct interpretation of cerebral pressure-flow dynamics as indexed using TFA metrics.


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