Lower capacitance response and capillary fluid absorption in women to defend central blood volume in response to acute hypovolemic circulatory stress

Sex Differences in Orthostatic Tolerance Are Mainly Explained by Blood Volume and Oxygen Carrying Capacity

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The reduced orthostatic tolerance (OT) that is characteristic of the female sex may be explained by multiple phenotypic differences between sexes. This study aimed to elucidate the mechanistic role of blood volume (BV) and oxygen carrying capacity on sex differences in OT.

Physiology of Human Hemorrhage and Compensation

Hemorrhage is a leading cause of death following traumatic injuries in the United States. Much of the previous work in assessing the physiology and pathophysiology underlying blood loss has focused on descriptive measures of hemodynamic responses such as blood pressure, cardiac output, stroke volume, heart rate, and vascular resistance as indicators of changes in organ perfusion. More recent work has shifted the focus toward understanding mechanisms of compensation for reduced systemic delivery and cellular utilization of oxygen as a more comprehensive approach to understanding the complex physiologic changes that occur following and during blood loss. In this article, we begin with applying dimensional analysis for comparison of animal models, and progress to descriptions of various physiological consequences of hemorrhage. We then introduce the complementary side of compensation by detailing the complexity and integration of various compensatory mechanisms that are activated from the initiation of hemorrhage and serve to maintain adequate vital organ perfusion and hemodynamic stability in the scenario of reduced systemic delivery of oxygen until the onset of hemodynamic decompensation. New data are introduced that challenge legacy concepts related to mechanisms that underlie baroreflex functions and provide novel insights into the measurement of the integrated response of compensation to central hypovolemia known as the compensatory reserve. The impact of demographic and environmental factors on tolerance to hemorrhage is also reviewed. Finally, we describe how understanding the physiology of compensation can be translated to applications for early assessment of the clinical status and accurate triage of hypovolemic and hypotensive patients. © 2021 American Physiological Society. Compr Physiol 11:1531-1574, 2021.

Assessment of Upper Extremity Venous Compliance in Patients With Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

OBJECTIVE

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is associated with morphological and functional changes in both aneurysmal and non-aneurysmal arteries. However, it remains uncertain whether similar changes also exist in the venous vasculature. The aim of this study was to evaluate global venous function in patients with AAA and controls.

METHODS

This experimental study comprised 31 men with AAA (mean ± standard deviation age 70.0 ± 2.8 years) and 29 male controls (aged 70.6 ± 3.4 years). Venous occlusion plethysmography (VOP) was used to evaluate arm venous compliance at venous pressures between 10 and 60 mmHg in steps of 5 mmHg. Compensatory mobilisation of venous capacitance blood (capacitance response) was measured with a volumetric technique during experimental hypovolaemia induced by lower body negative pressure (LBNP).

RESULTS

The VOP induced pressure-volume curve was significantly less steep in patients with AAA (interaction, p < .001), indicating lower venous compliance. Accordingly, the corresponding pressure-compliance curves displayed reduced venous compliance at lower venous pressures in patients with AAA vs. controls (interaction, p < .001; AAA vs. control, p = .018). After adjusting for arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperlipidaemia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and smoking, VOP detected differences in venous compliance remained significant at low venous pressures, that is, at 10 mmHg (p = .008), 15 mmHg (p = .013), and 20 mmHg (p = .026). Mean venous compliance was negatively correlated with aortic diameter (r = -.332, p = .010). Mobilisation of venous capacitance response during LBNP was reduced by approximately 25% in patients with AAA (p = .030), and the redistribution of venous blood during LBNP was negatively correlated with aortic diameter (r = -.417, p = .007).

CONCLUSION

Men with AAA demonstrated reduced venous compliance and, as a result, a lesser capacity to mobilise peripheral venous blood to the central circulation during hypovolaemic stress. These findings imply that the AAA disease may be accompanied by functional changes in the venous vascular wall.

Muscle sympathetic nerve activity and hemodynamic responses to venous distension: does sex play a role?

Peripheral venous distension mechanically stimulates type III/IV sensory fibers in veins and evokes pressor and sympathoexcitatory reflex responses in humans. As young women have reduced venous compliance and impaired sympathetic transduction, we tested the hypothesis that pressor and sympathoexcitatory responses to venous distension may be attenuated in women compared with men. Mean arterial pressure (photoplethysmography), heart rate (HR), stroke volume (SV; Modelflow), cardiac output (CO = HR × SV), muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA), femoral artery blood flow, and femoral artery conductance (Doppler ultrasound) were quantified in eight men (27 ± 4 yr) and nine women (28 ± 4 yr) before [control (CON)], during (INF), and immediately after (post-INF) a local infusion of saline [5% of the total forearm volume (30 ml/min); the infusion time was 2 ± 1 and 1 ± 1 min ( P = 0.0001) for men and women, respectively] through a retrograde catheter inserted into an antecubital vein, to which venous drainage and arterial supply had been occluded. Mean arterial pressure increased during and after infusion in both groups (vs. the CON group, P < 0.05), but women showed a smaller pressor response in the post-INF period (Δ+7.2 ± 2.0 vs. Δ+18.3 ± 3.9 mmHg in men, P = 0.019). MSNA increased and femoral artery conductance decreased similarly in both groups (vs. the CON group, P < 0.05) at post-INF. Although HR changes were similar, increases in SV (Δ+20.4 ± 8.6 vs. Δ+2.6 ± 2.7 ml, P = 0.05) and CO (Δ+0.84 ± 0.17 vs. Δ+0.34 ± 0.10 l/min, P = 0.024) were greater in men compared with women. Therefore, venous distension evokes a smaller pressor response in young women due to attenuated cardiac adjustments rather than reduced venous compliance or sympathetic transduction. NEW & NOTEWORTHY We found that the pressor response to venous distension was attenuated in young women compared with age-matched men. This was due to attenuated cardiac adjustments rather than reduced venous compliance, sympathetic activation, or impaired transduction and vascular control. Collectively, these findings suggest that an attenuated venous distension reflex could be involved in orthostatic intolerance in young women.

Reduced compensatory responses to maintain central blood volume during hypovolemic stress in women with vasovagal syncope

Although vasovagal syncope (VVS) is a common clinical condition, the underlying pathophysiology is not fully understood. A decrease in cardiac output has recently been suggested as a factor in orthostatic VVS. The aim was to investigate compensatory mechanisms to maintain central blood volume and venous return during hypovolemic stress in women with VVS. Fourteen VVS women (25.7 ± 5.0 yr) and 15 matched controls (22.8 ± 3.2 yr) were investigated. Single-step and graded lower body negative pressure (LBNP) to presyncope were used to create hypovolemic stress. Peripheral mobilization of venous blood from the arm (capacitance response and net capillary fluid absorption) and lower limb blood pooling (calf capacitance response) were evaluated using a volumetric technique. Cardiovascular responses and plasma norepinephrine (P-NE) were measured. Resting P-NE was elevated in VVS women (P < 0.01). Despite a similar hypovolemic stimulus, the increase in P-NE was blunted (P < 0.01) and the maximal percent increase in total peripheral resistance was reduced (P < 0.05) during graded LBNP in VVS women. The arm capacitance response was slower (P < 0.05) and reduced in VVS women at higher levels of LBNP (P < 0.05). Capillary fluid absorption from extra- to intravascular space was reduced by ∼40% in VVS women (P < 0.05). Accordingly, the reduction in cardiac output was more pronounced (P < 0.05). In conclusion, in VVS women, mobilization of peripheral venous blood and net fluid absorption from tissue to blood during hypovolemic stress were decreased partly as a result of an attenuated vasoconstrictor response. This may seriously impede maintenance of cardiac output during hypovolemic stress and could contribute to the pathogenesis of VVS.

Slower Lower Limb Blood Pooling Increases Orthostatic Tolerance in Women with Vasovagal Syncope

Background and Aim: Slower lower limb blood pooling and associated blunted sympathetic activation has been detected in healthy women prone to orthostatic syncope. Whether these findings are true also for patients with vasovagal syncope (VVS) is unknown. The aim was to investigate initial blood pooling time (pooling_time, time to 50% of total blood pooling) together with hemodynamic responses and orthostatic tolerance during lower body negative pressure (LBNP) in VVS and healthy controls.

Methods and Results: Fourteen VVS women (25.7 ± 1.3 years) and 15 healthy women (22.8 ± 0.8 years) were subjected to single-step and graded LBNP to pre-syncope. Lower limb blood pooling (ml · 100 ml⁻¹), pooling_time (s), hemodynamic responses and LBNP-tolerance were evaluated. LBNP induced comparable lower limb blood pooling in both groups (controls, 3.1 ± 0.3; VVS, 2.9 ± 0.3 ml · 100 ml⁻¹, P = 0.70). In controls, shorter pooling_time correlated to higher LBNP-tolerance (r = –0.550, P < 0.05) as well as better maintained stroke volume (r = –0.698, P < 0.01) and cardiac output (r = –0.563, P < 0.05). In contrast, shorter pooling_time correlated to lower LBNP-tolerance in VVS (r = 0.821, P < 0.001) and larger decline in stroke volume (r = 0.611, P < 0.05). Furthermore, in controls, shorter pooling_time correlated to baroreflex-mediated hemodynamic changes during LBNP, e.g., increased vasoconstriction (P < 0.001). In VVS, pooling_time was not correlated with LBNP-induced baroreceptor unloading, but rather highly correlated to resting calf blood flow (P < 0.001).

Conclusions: Shorter pooling_time seems to elicit greater sympathetic activation with a concomitant higher orthostatic tolerance in healthy women. The contrasting findings in VVS indicate a deteriorated vascular sympathetic control suggesting well-defined differences already in the initial responses during orthostatic stress.

Reduced Venous Compliance in Young Women with Type 1 Diabetes - Further Aggravated by Prolonged Elevated Levels of HbA1c

BACKGROUND

Young patients with diabetes present with reduced compensatory responses to hypovolemic stress. Less compliant veins could be a contributing factor, since roughly two-thirds of the blood volume resides in the venous system as a blood reservoir, adjusting proper venous inflow to the heart. The aim of this study was to measure venous compliance and lower limb blood pooling during hypovolemic stress, and to correlate them to indices of diabetes severity and glucose control.

METHODS

Fifteen young women with type 1 diabetes (DW) and 18 healthy age-matched women (C) were subjected to lower body negative pressure (LBNP) (11-44 mmHg), creating hypovolemic stress. Lower limb blood pooling was measured with strain gage technique and venous compliance calculated as the relationship between ∆V/∆P.

RESULTS

DW presented with reduced blood pooling (e.g., blood pooling during LBNP of 44 mmHg, DW, 1.69 ± 0.10; C, 2.10 ± 0.08 (ml/100 ml), and P = 0.003). Calculated venous compliance was also reduced in DW (e.g., compliance at 20 mmHg, DW, 0.046 ± 0.003; C, 0.059 ± 0.002 (ml/100 ml/mmHg), and P = 0.002). A progressive reduction in both venous compliance (P < 0.007) and blood pooling (P < 0.005) was seen with increasing level of HbA_1c, and furthermore, less strongly associated with presence of microvascular disease (signs of retinopathy).

CONCLUSION

Women with type 1 diabetes present with both reduced venous compliance and blood pooling. The reductions were particularly present in patients with long-standing poor glycemic control.

Reduced venous compliance: an important determinant for orthostatic intolerance in women with vasovagal syncope

The influence of lower limb venous compliance on orthostatic vasovagal syncope (VVS) is uncertain. The most widespread technique to calculate venous compliance uses a nonphysiological quadratic regression equation. Our aim was therefore to construct a physiologically derived venous wall model (VWM) for calculation of calf venous compliance and to determine the effect of venous compliance on tolerance to maximal lower body negative pressure (LBNP). Venous occlusion plethysmography was used to study calf volume changes in 15 women with VVS (25.5 ± 1.3 yr of age) and 15 controls (22.8 ± 0.8 yr of age). The fit of the VWM and the regression equation to the experimentally induced pressure-volume curve was examined. Venous compliance was calculated as the derivative of the modeled pressure-volume relationship. Graded LBNP to presyncope was used to determine the LBNP tolerance index (LTI). The VWM displayed a better fit to the experimentally induced pressure-volume curve (P < 0.0001). Calf blood pooling was similar in the groups and was not correlated to the LTI (r = 0.204, P = 0.30). Venous compliance was significantly reduced at low venous pressures in women with VVS (P = 0.042) and correlated to the LTI (r = 0.459, P = 0.014) in the low pressure range. No correlation was found between venous compliance at high venous pressures and the LTI. In conclusion, the new VWM accurately adopted the curvilinear pressure-volume curve, providing a valid characterization of venous compliance. Reduced venous compliance at low venous pressures may adversely affect mobilization of peripheral venous blood to the central circulation during hypovolemic circulatory stress in women with VVS.

Slower lower limb blood pooling in young women with orthostatic intolerance

NEW FINDINGS

What is the central question of this study? Orthostatic stress is mostly caused by venous blood pooling in the lower limbs. Venous distension elicits sympathetic responses, and increased distension speed enhances the cardiovascular response. We examine whether lower limb blood pooling rate during lower body negative pressure is linked to orthostatic intolerance. What is the main finding and its importance? A similar amount of blood was pooled in the lower limb, but at a slower rate in women who developed signs of orthostatic intolerance. The difference in blood pooling rate increased with orthostatic stress and was most prominent at a presyncope-inducing level of lower body negative pressure. The findings have implications for the pathophysiology as well as treatment of orthostatic intolerance. Vasovagal syncope is common in young women, but its aetiology remains elusive. Orthostatic stress-induced lower limb blood pooling is linked with central hypovolaemia and baroreceptor unloading. Venous distension in the arm elicits a sympathetic response, which is enhanced with more rapid distension. Our aim was to study both the amount and the speed of lower limb pooling during orthostatic stress and its effects on compensatory mechanisms to maintain cardiovascular homeostasis in women with orthostatic intolerance. Twenty-seven healthy women, aged 20-27 years, were subjected to a lower body negative pressure (LBNP) of 11-44 mmHg. Five women developed symptoms of vasovagal syncope (orthostatic intolerant) and were compared with the remaining women, who tolerated LBNP well (orthostatic tolerant). Lower limb blood pooling, blood flow and compensatory mobilization of venous capacitance blood were measured. Lower body negative pressure induced equal lower limb blood pooling in both groups, but at a slower rate in orthostatic intolerant women (e.g. time to 50% of total blood pooling, orthostatic intolerant 44 ± 7 s and orthostatic tolerant 26 ± 2 s; P < 0.001). At presyncope-inducing LBNP, the mobilization of venous capacitance blood was both reduced (P < 0.05) and much slower in orthostatic intolerant women (P = 0.0007). Orthostatic intolerant women elicited blunted arterial vasoconstriction at low-grade LBNP, activating only cardiopulmonary baroreceptors, while orthostatic tolerant women responded with apparent vasoconstriction (P < 0.0001). In conclusion, slower lower limb blood pooling could contribute to orthostatic intolerance in women. Mobilization of venous capacitance blood from the peripheral to the central circulation was both slower and decreased; furthermore, reduced cardiopulmonary baroreceptor sensitivity was found in women who developed orthostatic intolerance. Further studies including women who experience syncope in daily life are needed.

Decreased circulatory response to hypovolemic stress in young women with type 1 diabetes

OBJECTIVE

Diabetes is associated with hemodynamic instability during different situations involving acute circulatory stress in daily life. Young men with type 1 diabetes have been shown to have impaired circulatory response to hypovolemic stress. The effect of type 1 diabetes on cardiovascular response to hypovolemia in young women is unknown, however.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Lower body negative pressure of 30 cm H2O was used to create rapid hypovolemic stress in 15 young women with type 1 diabetes (DW) and 16 healthy women (control subjects [C]). Compensatory mobilization of venous capacitance blood (capacitance response) and net fluid absorption from tissue to blood were measured with a volumetric technique. Overall cardiovascular responses and plasma norepinephrine levels were measured.

RESULTS

Capacitance response was reduced (DW, 0.67 ± 0.05; C, 0.92 ± 0.06) and developed slower in DW (P < 0.01). Capacitance response was further reduced with increasing levels of HbA1c. Fluid absorption was almost halved in DW (P < 0.01). The initial vasoconstrictor response was reduced and developed slower in DW (P < 0.05). Arterial vasoconstriction was further reduced in the presence of microvascular complications (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

DW present with decreased and slower mobilization of venous capacitance blood and decreased net fluid absorption from tissue to blood during hypovolemic circulatory stress. Collectively, this indicates that DW are prone to hemodynamic instability, especially in the presence of microvascular complications and poor glycemic control.

Impaired compensatory response to hypovolaemic circulatory stress in type 1 diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is associated with decreased haemodynamic stability and reduced tolerance to hypovolaemia. Compensatory haemodynamic responses during experimental hypovolaemia in type 1 diabetes patients with (DMR+) and without (DMR-) retinopathy as well as healthy controls (C) were studied. Lower body negative pressure created hypovolaemic circulatory stress. Volumetric techniques were used to assess the compensatory capacitance response (redistribution of peripheral venous blood to the central circulation) and to assess capillary fluid absorption from tissue to blood. The compensatory capacitance response was 1/3 lower in DMR+ compared with C (p = 0.002) and DMR- (p = 0.01). Net capillary fluid absorption was reduced by one-third in DMR- and DMR+ compared with C (each p < 0.05). Type 1 diabetes patients with retinopathy demonstrate reduced mobilisation of peripheral venous blood to the central circulation. Furthermore, type 1 diabetes patients present with impaired capillary fluid absorption, which in combination with potentially decreased sympathetic vasoconstriction impedes cardiovascular homeostasis during acute hypovolaemic stress.