Mechanisms of sympathetic regulation in orthostatic intolerance

Unraveling autonomic cardiovascular control complexity during orthostatic stress: Insights from a mathematical model

Understanding cardiovascular control mediated by the autonomic system remains challenging due to its inherent complexity. Consequently, syndromes such as orthostatic intolerance continue to evoke debates regarding the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. This study develops a comprehensive mathematical model simulating the control of the sympathetic branch of the cardiovascular system in individuals with normal and abnormal responses to the head-up-tilt test. We recruited four young women: one control, one with vasovagal syncope, one with orthostatic hypertension, and one with orthostatic hypotension, exposing them to an orthostatic head-up tilt test (HUTT) employing non-invasive methods to measure electrocardiography and continuous blood pressure. Our work encompasses a compartmental model formulated using a system of ordinary differential equations. Using heart rate as input, we predict blood pressure, flow, and volume in compartments representing the veins, arteries, heart, and the sympathetic branch of the baroreflex control system. The latter is modulated by high- and low-pressure baroreceptor afferents activated by changes in blood pressure induced by the HUTT. Sensitivity analysis, parameter subset selection, and optimization are employed to estimate patient-specific parameters associated with autonomic performance. The model has seven sensitive and identifiable parameters with significant physiological relevance that can serve as biomarkers for patient classification. Results show that the model can reproduce a spectrum of blood pressure responses successfully, fitting the trajectory displayed by the experimental data. The controller exhibits behavior that emulates the operation of the sympathetic system. These encouraging findings underscore the potential of computational methods in evaluating pathologies associated with autonomic nervous system control, warranting further exploration and novel approaches.

Orthostatic testing for heart rate and heart rate variability monitoring in exercise science and practice

Orthostatic testing, involving the transition from different body positions (e.g., from lying or sitting position to an upright or standing position), offers valuable insights into the autonomic nervous system (ANS) functioning and cardiovascular regulation reflected through complex adjustments in, e.g., measures of heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV). This narrative review explores the intricate physiological mechanisms underlying orthostatic stress responses and evaluates its significance for exercise science and sports practice. Into this matter, active orthostatic testing (e.g., active standing up) challenges the cardiovascular autonomic function in a different way than a passive tilt test. It is well documented that there is a transient reduction in blood pressure while standing up, leading to a reflex increase in HR and peripheral vasoconstriction. After that acute response systolic and diastolic blood pressures are usually slightly increased compared to supine lying body position. The ANS response to standing is initiated by instantaneous cardiac vagal withdrawal, followed by sympathetic activation and vagal reactivation over the first 25-30 heartbeats. Thus, HR increases immediately upon standing, peaking after 15-20 beats, and is less marked during passive tilting due to the lack of muscular activity. Standing also decreases vagally related HRV indices compared to the supine position. In overtrained endurance athletes, both parasympathetic and sympathetic activity are attenuated in supine and standing positions. Their response to standing is lower than in non-overtrained athletes, with a tendency for further decreased HRV as a sign of pronounced vagal withdrawal and, in some cases, decreased sympathetic excitability, indicating a potential overtraining state. However, as a significant main characteristic, it could be noted that additional pathophysiological conditions consist in a reduced responsiveness or counter-regulation of neural drive in ANS according to an excitatory stimulus, such as an orthostatic challenge. Hence, especially active orthostatic testing could provide additional information about HR(V) reactivity and recovery giving valuable insights into athletes' training status, fatigue levels, and adaptability to workload. Measuring while standing might also counteract the issue of parasympathetic saturation as a common phenomenon especially in well-trained endurance athletes. Data interpretation should be made within intra-individual data history in trend analysis accounting for inter-individual variations in acute responses during testing due to life and physical training stressors. Therefore, additional measures (e.g., psychometrical scales) are required to provide context for HR and HRV analysis interpretation. However, incidence of orthostatic intolerance should be evaluated on an individual level and must be taken into account when considering to implement orthostatic testing in specific subpopulations. Recommendations for standardized testing procedures and interpretation guidelines are developed with the overall aim of enhancing training and recovery strategies. Despite promising study findings in the above-mentioned applied fields, further research, thorough method comparison studies, and systematic reviews are needed to assess the overall perspective of orthostatic testing for training monitoring and fine-tuning of different populations in exercise science and training.

Cerebral homeostasis and orthostatic responses in residents of the highest city in the world

Permanent residence at high-altitude and chronic mountain sickness (CMS) may alter the cerebrovascular homeostasis and orthostatic responses. Healthy male participants living at sea-level (LL; n = 15), 3800 m (HL3800m; n = 13) and 5100 m (HL5100m; n = 17), respectively, and CMS highlanders living at 5100 m (n = 31) were recruited. Middle cerebral artery mean blood flow velocity (MCAv), cerebral oxygen delivery (CDO2), mean blood pressure (MAP), heart rate variability and spontaneuous cardiac baroreflex sensitivity (cBRS) were assessed while sitting, initial 30 s and after 3 min of standing. Cerebral autoregulation index (ARI) was estimated (ΔMCAv%baseline)/ΔMAP%baseline) in response to the orthostatic challenge. Altitude and CMS were associated with hypoxemia and elevated hemoglobin concentration. While sitting, MCAv and LFpower negatively correlated with altitude but were not affected by CMS. CDO2 remained preserved. BRS was comparable across all altitudes, but lower with CMS. Within initial 30 s of standing, altitude and CMS correlated with a lesser ΔMAP while ARI remained unaffected. After 3 min standing, MCAv, CDO2 and cBRS remained preserved across altitudes. The LF/HF ratio increased in HL5100m compared to LL and HL3800m from sitting to standing. In contrary, CMS showed blunted autonomic nervous activation in responses to standing. Despite altitude- and CMS-associated hypoxemia, erythrocytosis and impaired blood pressure regulation (CMS only), cerebral homeostasis remained overall preserved.

The combined effects of temperature and posture on regional blood flow and haemodynamics

Under simultaneous ambient temperature and postural stressors, integrated regional blood flow responses are required to maintain blood pressure and thermoregulatory homeostasis. The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of ambient temperature and body posture on regional regulation of microvascular blood flow, specifically in the arms and legs. Participants (N = 11) attended two sessions in which they experienced transient ambient conditions, in a climatic chamber. During each 60-min trial, ambient temperature increased from 15.7 (0.6) °C to 38.9 (0.6) °C followed by a linear decrease, and the participants were either standing or in a supine position throughout the trial; relative humidity in the chamber was maintained at 25.9 (6.6) %. Laser doppler flowmetry of the forearm (SkBFarm) and calf (SkBFcalf), and haemodynamic responses (heart rate, HR; stroke volume, SV; cardiac output, CO; blood pressure, BP), were measured continuously. Analyses of heart rate variability and wavelet transform were also conducted. SkBFarm increased significantly at higher ambient temperatures (p = 0.003), but not SkBFcalf. The standing posture caused lower overall SkBF in both regions throughout the protocol, regardless of temperature (p < 0.001). HR and BP were significantly elevated, and SV significantly lowered, in response to separate and combined effects of higher ambient temperatures and a standing position (all p < 0.05); CO remained unchanged. Mechanistic analyses identified greater sympathetic nerve activation, and higher calf myogenic activation at peak temperatures, in the standing condition. Mechanistically and functionally, arm vasculature responds to modulation from both thermoregulation and baroreceptor activity. The legs, meanwhile, are more sensitive to baroreflex regulatory mechanisms.

Were Frailty Identification Criteria Created Equal? A Comparative Case Study on Continuous Non-Invasively Collected Neurocardiovascular Signals during an Active Standing Test in the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA)

BACKGROUND

In this observational study, we compared continuous physiological signals during an active standing test in adults aged 50 years and over, characterised as frail by three different criteria, using data from The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA).

METHODS

This study utilised data from TILDA, an ongoing landmark prospective cohort study of community-dwelling adults aged 50 years or older in Ireland. The initial sampling strategy in TILDA was based on random geodirectory sampling. Four independent groups were identified: those characterised as frail only by one of the frailty tools used (the physical Frailty Phenotype (FP), the 32-item Frailty Index (FI), or the Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) classification tree), and a fourth group where participants were not characterised as frail by any of these tools. Continuous non-invasive physiological signals were collected during an active standing test, including systolic (sBP) and diastolic (dBP) blood pressure, as well as heart rate (HR), using digital artery photoplethysmography. Additionally, the frontal lobe cerebral oxygenation (Oxy), deoxygenation (Deoxy), and tissue saturation index (TSI) were also non-invasively measured using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS). The signals were visualised across frailty groups and statistically compared using one-dimensional statistical parametric mapping (SPM).

RESULTS

A total of 1124 participants (mean age of 63.5 years; 50.2% women) were included: 23 were characterised as frail only by the FP, 97 by the FI, 38 by the CFS, and 966 by none of these criteria. The SPM analyses revealed that only the group characterised as frail by the FI had significantly different signals (p < 0.001) compared to the non-frail group. Specifically, they exhibited an attenuated gain in HR between 10 and 15 s post-stand and larger deficits in sBP and dBP between 15 and 20 s post-stand.

CONCLUSIONS

The FI proved to be more adept at capturing distinct physiological responses to standing, likely due to its direct inclusion of cardiovascular morbidities in its definition. Significant differences were observed in the dynamics of cardiovascular signals among the frail populations identified by different frailty criteria, suggesting that caution should be taken when employing frailty identification tools on physiological signals, particularly the neurocardiovascular signals in an active standing test.

Insult of Ultraendurance Events on Blood Pressure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The rise of ultraendurance sports in the past two decades warrants evaluation of the impact on the heart and vessels of a growing number of athletes participating. Blood pressure is a simple, inexpensive method to evaluate one dimension of an athlete's cardiovascular health. No systematic review or meta-analysis to date has chronicled and delineated the effects of ultraendurance races, such as ultramarathons, marathons, half-marathons, and Ironman triathlon events, specifically on heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), pulse pressure (PP), and mean arterial pressure (MAP) measurements in supine and standing positions before and after the event. This meta-analysis reviews the effects of ultraendurance events on positional and calculated hemodynamic values. Data were extracted from 38 studies and analyzed using a random effects model with a total of 1,645 total blood pressure measurements. Of these, 326 values were obtained from a standing position, and 1,319 blood pressures were taken supine. Pre-race and post-race measurements were evaluated for clinical significance using established standards of hypotension and orthostasis. HR and calculated BP features, such as PP and MAP, were evaluated. Across all included studies, the mean supine post-race HR increased by 21±8 beats per minute (bpm) compared to pre-race values. The mean standing post-race HR increased by 23±14 bpm when compared with pre-race HR. Overall, there was a mean SBP decrease of 19±9 mmHg and a DBP decrease of 9±5 mmHg post-race versus pre-race values. MAP variations reflected SBP and DBP changes. The mean supine and standing pre-race blood pressures across studies were systolic (126±7; 124±14) and diastolic (76±6; 75±12), suggesting that some athletes may enter races with existing hypertension. The post-race increase in the mean HR and decline in mean blood pressure across examined studies suggest that during long-term events, ultramarathon athletes perform with relatively asymptomatic hypotension.

Association between Daytime Sleepiness, Fatigue and Autonomic Responses during Head-Up Tilt Test in Multiple Sclerosis Patients

We aimed to assess dynamic changes in hemodynamic and autonomic function in response to the head-up tilt test (HUTT) in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) compared to healthy controls (HCs) and evaluate its relationship with the patients' reported daytime sleepiness and fatigue symptoms. A total of 58 MS patients and 30 HCs were included in the analysis. Fatigue and sleepiness were evaluated using the Chalder Fatigue Scale (CFQ) and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), respectively. Hemodynamic response, baroreflex sensitivity, heart rate variability, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) variability (SBPV, DBPV) parameters were calculated at rest, and in response to the HUTT. The MS patients displayed attenuated BP responses coupled with a more pronounced decrease in cardiac index as well as a reduced increase in the low frequency (LFnu) of DBPV (p = 0.021) and the sympathovagal ratio (p = 0.031) in the latter-phase orthostatic challenge compared to HCs. In MS patients, the ESS score showed no correlation with CFQ or clinical disease outcomes, but exhibited a moderate correlation with LFnu of BPVrest. Fatigue and disease variants predicted blood pressure response to HUTT. These findings underscore the importance of subjective daytime sleepiness and fatigue symptoms and their role in blood pressure regulation in MS patients.

Prevalence and associated factors of postoperative orthostatic intolerance at University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia, 2022: cross sectional study

BACKGROUND

Postoperative orthostatic intolerance is an inability to maintain an upright position because of symptoms of cerebral hypoperfusion. It is a common problem in the early postoperative period and hinders early mobilization, however, there is limited information about factors associated with it. Thus, the main aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and identify factors associated with postoperative orthostatic intolerance.

METHOD

Hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted from April 08 to July 20, 2022, at University of Gondar comprehensive Specialized Hospital. A semi-structured questionnaire containing sociodemographic variables and perioperative factors related to anesthesia and surgery was used for data collection. The presence of postoperative orthostatic intolerance during the first ambulation was evaluated with a standardized symptom checklist which contains symptoms of orthostatic intolerance. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to assess factors associated with postoperative orthostatic intolerance. In multivariable regression, variables with P-value < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

RESULT

A total of 420 patients were included in this study with a response rate of 99.06%. Postoperative orthostatic intolerance was experienced in 254 (60.5%) participants. Being female (AOR = 2.27; 95% CI = 1.06-4.86), low BMI (AOR = 0.79; 95% CI = 0.71-0.95), ASA II and above (AOR = 3.34; 95% CI = 1.34-8.28), low diastolic blood pressure (AOR = 0.82; 95% CI = 0.88-0.99), general anesthesia (AOR = 3.26, 95% CI = 1.31-8.12), high intraoperative blood lose (AOR = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.88-0.99), high postoperative fluid intake (AOR = 2.09, 95% CI = 1.23-3.55), pain before ambulation (AOR = 1.99, 95% CI = 1.28-3.11) and pain during ambulation (AOR = 1.82, 95% CI = 1.23-2.69) were the significant factors associated with orthostatic intolerance.

CONCLUSION

Our study revealed that postoperative orthostatic intolerance was experienced in nearly two-thirds of participants. During the time of ambulation, assessing patients for the presence of orthostatic intolerance is necessary to reduce the adverse effects of postoperative OI. In addition, maintaining preoperative normotension, reducing intraoperative blood loss and optimizing postoperative pain control is recommended to reduce the risk of postoperative orthostatic intolerance.

Distinct Hemodynamic Responses That Culminate With Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome

It is of paramount importance to characterize the individual hemodynamic response of patients with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) to select the best therapeutic intervention. Our aim in this study was to describe the hemodynamic changes in 40 patients with POTS during the head-up tilt test and compare them with 48 healthy patients. Hemodynamic parameters were obtained by cardiac bioimpedance. Patients were compared in supine position and after 5, 10, 15, and 20 minutes of orthostatic position. Patients with POTS demonstrated higher heart rate (74 beats per minute [64 to 80] vs 67 [62 to 72], p <0.001) and lower stroke volume (SV) (83.0 ml [72 to 94] vs 90 [79 to 112], p <0.001) at supine position. The response to orthostatic challenge was characterized by a decrease in SV index (SVI) in both groups (ΔSVI in ml/m²: -16 [-25 to -7.] vs -11 [-17 to -6.1], p = NS). Peripheral vascular resistance (PVR) was reduced only in POTS (ΔPVR in dyne.seg/cm⁵:-52 [-279 to 163] vs 326 [58 to 535], p <0.001). According to the best cut-off points obtained using the receiver operating characteristic analysis for the variation of SVI (-15.5%) and PVR index (PVRI) (-5.5%), we observed 4 distinct groups of POTS: 10% presented an increase in both SVI and PVRI after the orthostatic challenge, 35% presented a PVRI decrease with SVI maintenance or increase, 37.5% presented an SVI decrease with PVRI maintenance or elevation, and 17.5% presented a reduction in both variables. Body mass index, ΔSVI, and ΔPVRI were strongly correlated with POTS (area under the curve = 0.86 [95% confidence interval 0.77 to 0.92], p <0.0001). In conclusion, the use of appropriate cut-off points for hemodynamic parameters using bioimpedance cardiography during the head-up tilt test could be a useful strategy to identify the main mechanism involved and to select the best individual therapeutic strategy in POTS.

Increased cerebral vascular resistance underlies preserved cerebral blood flow in response to orthostasis in humans on a high-salt diet

Cerebral blood flow autoregulation protects brain tissue from blood pressure variations and maintains cerebral perfusion pressure by changes in vascular resistance. High salt (HS) diet impairs endothelium-dependent vasodilation in many vascular beds, including cerebral microcirculation, and may affect vascular resistance. The aim of present study was to determine if 7-day HS diet affected the reactivity of middle cerebral artery (MCA) to orthostatic challenge in healthy human individuals, and if autoregulatory mechanisms and sympathetic neural regulation were involved in this phenomenon.Twenty-seven persons participated in study (F:21, M:6, age range 19-24). Participants consumed 7-day low-salt (LS) diet (< 2.3 g kitchen salt/day) and afterwards 7-day HS diet (> 11.2 g kitchen salt/day). Blood and urine analysis and anthropometric measurements were performed after each diet. Arterial blood pressure, heart rate and heart rate variability, and cerebral and systemic hemodynamic parameters were recorded simultaneously with transcranial Doppler ultrasound and The Task Force® Monitor in response to orthostatic test.Participants remained normotensive during HS diet. Following both, the LS and HS dietary protocols, mean cerebral blood flow (CBF), as well as the velocity time integral and diastolic blood pressure decreased, and cerebral pulsatility index increased after rising up. Importantly, cerebrovascular resistance significantly increased in response to orthostasis only after HS diet. Urine concentration of noradrenaline and vanillylmandelic acid, baroreflex sensitivity (BRS), and sympathetic neural control was significantly decreased in HS diet.Results suggest that CBF in response to orthostatic test was preserved in HS condition due to altered vascular reactivity of MCA, with increased cerebrovascular resistance and blunted BRS and sympathetic activity.

An Intervention of Four Weeks of Time-Restricted Eating (16/8) in Male Long-Distance Runners Does Not Affect Cardiometabolic Risk Factors

Timing of nutrient intake for athletes may affect exercise performance and cardiometabolic factors. Our objective was to examine the effect of time-restricted eating (TRE) on cardiometabolic health. Using a cross-over study design, 15 endurance-trained male runners were randomized to either a normal dietary pattern (ND) first (12 h eating/fasting times) followed by time-restricted eating (TRE) pattern (16 h fast; 8 h eating) or the reverse, with a 4-week washout period between interventions. Body composition, resting energy expenditure, blood pressure and serum insulin, glucose and lipids were measured using standard laboratory methods. Exercise training and dietary intake (calories and macronutrients) were similar across interventions. No significant differences were observed in resting energy expenditure, markers of insulin resistance, serum lipids or blood pressure. Body composition did change significantly (p < 0.05) with whole body fat mass (-0.8 ± 1.3 kg with TRE vs. +0.1 ± 4.3 kg with ND), leg fat mass (-0.3 ± 0.5 kg with TRE vs. +0.1 ± 0.4 kg with ND), and percent body fat (-1.0 ± 1.5% with TRE vs. +0.1 ± 1.3% with ND) declining more in the TRE intervention, with no change in fat-free mass. This study is one of a few to investigate the effects of an isocaloric 16/8 TRE eating pattern in trained endurance athletes and confirms no change in cardiometabolic risk factors. In conclusion, TRE is not detrimental to cardiometabolic health in endurance-trained male runners but could be beneficial on exercise performance by reducing fat mass.

A Novel Methodology for the Synchronous Collection and Multimodal Visualization of Continuous Neurocardiovascular and Neuromuscular Physiological Data in Adults with Long COVID

Background: Reports suggest that adults with post-COVID-19 syndrome or long COVID may be affected by orthostatic intolerance syndromes, with autonomic nervous system dysfunction as a possible causal factor of neurocardiovascular instability (NCVI). Long COVID can also manifest as prolonged fatigue, which may be linked to neuromuscular function impairment (NMFI). The current clinical assessment for NCVI monitors neurocardiovascular performance upon the application of orthostatic stressors such as an active (i.e., self-induced) stand or a passive (tilt table) standing test. Lower limb muscle contractions may be important in orthostatic recovery via the skeletal muscle pump. In this study, adults with long COVID were assessed with a protocol that, in addition to the standard NCVI tests, incorporated simultaneous lower limb muscle monitoring for NMFI assessment. Methods: To conduct such an investigation, a wide range of continuous non-invasive biomedical sensing technologies were employed, including digital artery photoplethysmography for the extraction of cardiovascular signals, near-infrared spectroscopy for the extraction of regional tissue oxygenation in brain and muscle, and electromyography for assessment of timed muscle contractions in the lower limbs. Results: With the proposed methodology described and exemplified in this paper, we were able to collect relevant physiological data for the assessment of neurocardiovascular and neuromuscular functioning. We were also able to integrate signals from a variety of instruments in a synchronized fashion and visualize the interactions between different physiological signals during the combined NCVI/NMFI assessment. Multiple counts of evidence were collected, which can capture the dynamics between skeletal muscle contractions and neurocardiovascular responses. Conclusions: The proposed methodology can offer an overview of the functioning of the neurocardiovascular and neuromuscular systems in a combined NCVI/NMFI setup and is capable of conducting comparative studies with signals from multiple participants at any given time in the assessment. This could help clinicians and researchers generate and test hypotheses based on the multimodal inspection of raw data in long COVID and other cohorts.

Syncope associated with supraventricular tachycardia: Diagnostic role of implantable loop recorders

Syncope represents a relatively uncommon symptom of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT). It is likely that an impaired autonomic vasomotor response to the hemodynamic stress of tachycardia is the determinant of hemodynamic changes leading to cerebral hypoperfusion and syncope. In this regard, tilt-table test may detect abnormalities in the autonomic nervous function and predict the occurrence of syncope during SVT. Electrophysiology studies may reproduce the SVT, distinguish it from other life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias, and exclude other causes of syncope. Not infrequently mixed syncope mechanisms are revealed during the above diagnostic workup raising doubts about the operating mechanism in the clinical setting. In such cases of uncertainty, an implantable loop recorder, providing long-term cardiac monitoring, may play a pivotal role in the establishment of the diagnosis, confirming the association of an arrhythmic event with the symptom. Herein, we present four such cases with recurrent unexplained syncope finally attributed to paroxysmal SVT guiding them to a potentially radical treatment through radiofrequency catheter ablation.

Baseline left ventricular ejection fraction associated with symptom improvements in both children and adolescents with postural tachycardia syndrome under metoprolol therapy

BACKGROUND

Postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a common childhood disease that seriously affects the patient's physical and mental health. This study aimed to investigate whether pre-treatment baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) values were associated with symptom improvement after metoprolol therapy for children and adolescents with POTS.

METHODS

This retrospective study evaluated 51 children and adolescents with POTS who received metoprolol therapy at the Peking University First Hospital between November 2010 and July 2019. All patients had completed a standing test or basic head-up tilt test and cardiac echocardiography before treatment. Treatment response was evaluated 3 months after starting metoprolol therapy. The pre-treatment baseline LVEF and LVFS values were evaluated for correlations with decreases in the symptom score after treatment (ΔSS). Multivariable analysis was performed using factors with a P value of <0.100 in the univariate analyses and the demographic characteristics.

RESULTS

A comparison of responders and non-responders revealed no significant differences in demographic, hemodynamic characteristics, and urine specific gravity (all P > 0.050). However, responders had significantly higher baseline LVEF (71.09% ± 4.44% vs. 67.17% ± 4.88%, t = -2.789, P = 0.008) and LVFS values (40.00 [38.00, 42.00]% vs. 36.79% ± 4.11%, Z = -2.542, P = 0.010) than the non-responders. The baseline LVEF and LVFS were positively correlated with ΔSS (r = 0.378, P = 0.006; r = 0.363, P = 0.009), respectively. Logistic regression analysis revealed that LVEF was independently associated with the response to metoprolol therapy in children and adolescents with POTS (odds ratio: 1.201, 95% confidence interval: 1.039-1.387, P = 0.013).

CONCLUSIONS

Pre-treatment baseline LVEF was associated with symptom improvement after metoprolol treatment for children and adolescents with POTS.

Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS): State of the science and clinical care from a 2019 National Institutes of Health Expert Consensus Meeting - Part 1

Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a chronic and often disabling disorder characterized by orthostatic intolerance with excessive heart rate increase without hypotension during upright posture. Patients often experience a constellation of other typical symptoms including fatigue, exercise intolerance and gastrointestinal distress. A typical patient with POTS is a female of child-bearing age, who often first displays symptoms in adolescence. The onset of POTS may be precipitated by immunological stressors such as a viral infection. A variety of pathophysiologies are involved in the abnormal postural tachycardia response; however, the pathophysiology of the syndrome is incompletely understood and undoubtedly multifaceted. Clinicians and researchers focused on POTS convened at the National Institutes of Health in July 2019 to discuss the current state of understanding of the pathophysiology of POTS and to identify priorities for POTS research. This article, the first of two articles summarizing the information discussed at this meeting, summarizes the current understanding of this disorder and best practices for clinical care. The evaluation of a patient with suspected POTS should seek to establish the diagnosis, identify co-morbid conditions, and exclude conditions that could cause or mimic the syndrome. Once diagnosed, management typically begins with patient education and non-pharmacologic treatment options. Various medications are often used to address specific symptoms, but there are currently no FDA-approved medications for the treatment of POTS, and evidence for many of the medications used to treat POTS is not robust.

Device for Controlling Stimulus Self-Application During Autonomic Nervous System Tests

Assessment of autonomic nervous system (ANS) functioning may be performed non-invasively using autonomic tests which are based on evaluation of response of cardiovascular system to the applied stimuli, such as increased air pressure during Valsalva maneuver, skeletal muscle contraction during static handgrip or deep slow breathing. The cardiovascular response depends, besides ANS reaction and test protocol, also on the way stimulus is self-applied by the test subject. We present a versatile device for controlling stimulus self-application during three ANS tests: Valsalva maneuver, static handgrip, and deep breathing. It integrates two different gauges and a pace setter for breathing into one device. The core of the device is a linear LED display which, using green, yellow, and red diodes, informs the subject about the correctness of self-application of respective stimulus. The settings of the device can be adjusted to the needs of the protocol chosen. The device can record the duration of mouth air pressure or the force produced by the subject during ANS tests, which assures correctness of the tests, thus allowing to track individual variability changes in the response to the test. The device was verified during ANS tests and its use was intuitive for patients, reducing the time needed for training before tests and decreasing the effort of the physician.

Gender-related specificities of photoplethysmogram spectral assessment dynamics in healthy subjects during the passive tilt test

The goal of our study was to investigate gender-related specificities of photoplethysmogram (PPG) spectral assessment dynamics in healthy individuals during the passive tilt test. Material and Methods — The study involved 38 men (33±7 years old) and 15 women (27±8 years old). The PPG signal was recorded for 10 minutes in the horizontal and vertical positions of the human body (passive tilt test). The following spectral parameters of PPG were calculated: HF%, LF%, and LF/HF. Results — In the horizontal body position, men had significantly higher values of the LF% index. In the course of the passive tilt test, an increase in HF% was observed by almost 1.5 times in men and by more than 5 times in women. Significant differences in the values of vegetative indicators were achieved: in women, HF% values exceeded those in men, while LF% values were noticeably lower. Conclusion — Men displayed signs (assessed by LF%) of augmented sympathetic activity, relative to women, at all stages of their passive tilt test. During the transition from the horizontal to the vertical position, a significant increase in respiratory influences (assessed by HF%) on PPG signal components was established, which was more pronounced in women.

Management Strategies for Comorbid Supine Hypertension in Patients with Neurogenic Orthostatic Hypotension

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

In autonomic failure, neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (nOH) and neurogenic supine hypertension (nSH) are interrelated conditions characterized by postural blood pressure (BP) dysregulation. nOH results in a sustained BP drop upon standing, which can lead to symptoms that include lightheadedness, orthostatic dizziness, presyncope, and syncope. nSH is characterized by elevated BP when supine and, although often asymptomatic, may increase long-term cardiovascular and cerebrovascular risk. This article reviews the pathophysiology and clinical characteristics of nOH and nSH, and describes the management of patients with both nOH and nSH.

RECENT FINDINGS

Pressor medications required to treat the symptoms of nOH also increase the risk of nSH. Because nOH and nSH are hemodynamically opposed, therapies to treat one condition may exacerbate the other. The management of patients with nOH who also have nSH can be challenging and requires an individualized approach to balance the short- and long-term risks associated with these conditions. Approaches to manage neurogenic BP dysregulation include nonpharmacologic approaches and pharmacologic treatments. A stepwise treatment approach is presented to help guide neurologists in managing patients with both nOH and nSH.

Regional analysis of cerebral hemodynamic changes during the head-up tilt test in Parkinson's disease patients with orthostatic intolerance

Significance: Cerebral oxygenation changes in the superior, middle, and medial gyri were used to elucidate spatial impairments of autonomic hemodynamic recovery during the head-up tilt table test (HUTT) in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients with orthostatic intolerance (OI) symptoms. Aim: To analyze dynamic oxygenation changes during the HUTT and classify PD patients with OI symptoms using clinical and oxygenation features. Approach: Thirty-nine PD patients with OI symptoms [10: orthostatic hypotension (PD-OH); 29: normal HUTT results (PD-NOR)] and seven healthy controls (HCs) were recruited. Prefrontal oxyhemoglobin (HbO) changes during the HUTT were reconstructed with diffuse optical tomography and segmented using the automated anatomical labeling system. Decision trees were used for classification. Results: HCs and PD-NOR patients with positive rates of HbO change (PD-POS) showed the greatest HbO recovery in the superior frontal gyrus (SFG) during tilt. PD-OH and PD-NOR patients with negative rates of HbO change (PD-NEG) showed asymmetric reoxygenation. The classification accuracy was 89.4% for PD-POS versus PD-NEG, 71% for PD-NOR versus PD-OH, and 55.8% for PD-POS versus PD-NEG versus PD-OH. The oxygenation features were more discriminative than the clinical features. Conclusions: PD-OH showed decreased right SFG function, which may be associated with impaired compensatory autonomic responses to orthostatic stress.

Conversion of Astrocytes and Fibroblasts into Functional Noradrenergic Neurons

Dysfunction of noradrenergic (NA) neurons is associated with a number of neuronal disorders. Diverse neuronal subtypes can be generated by direct reprogramming. However, it is still unknown how to convert non-neuronal cells into NA neurons. Here, we show that seven transcription factors (TFs) (Ascl1, Phox2b, AP-2α, Gata3, Hand2, Nurr1, and Phox2a) are able to convert astrocytes and fibroblasts into induced NA (iNA) neurons. These iNA neurons express the genes required for the biosynthesis, release, and re-uptake of noradrenaline. Moreover, iNA neurons fire action potentials, receive synaptic inputs, and control the beating rate of co-cultured ventricular myocytes. Furthermore, iNA neurons survive and integrate into neural circuits after transplantation. Last, human fibroblasts can be converted into functional iNA neurons as well. Together, iNA neurons are generated by direct reprogramming, and they could be potentially useful for disease modeling and cell-based therapies.

Postural Tachycardia Syndrome in Children and Adolescents: Pathophysiology and Clinical Management

Postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS), characterized by chronic (≥6 months) orthostatic intolerance symptoms with a sustained and excessive heart rate increase while standing without postural hypotension, is common in children and adolescents. Despite the unclear pathogenesis of POTS, the present opinion is that POTS is a heterogeneous and multifactorial disorder that includes altered central blood volume, abnormal autonomic reflexes, "hyperadrenergic" status, damaged skeletal muscle pump activity, abnormal local vascular tension and vasoactive factor release, mast cell activation, iron insufficiency, and autoimmune dysfunction. A number of pediatric POTS patients are affected by more than one of these pathophysiological mechanisms. Therefore, individualized treatment strategies are initiated in the management of POTS, including basal non-pharmacological approaches (e.g., health education, the avoidance of triggers, exercise, or supplementation with water and salt) and special pharmacological therapies (e.g., oral rehydration salts, midodrine hydrochloride, and metoprolol). As such, the recent progress in the pathogenesis, management strategies, and therapeutic response predictors of pediatric POTS are reviewed here.

Hemodynamic orthostatic dizziness/vertigo: Diagnostic criteria

This paper presents the diagnostic criteria for hemodynamic orthostatic dizziness/vertigo to be included in the International Classification of Vestibular Disorders (ICVD). The aim of defining diagnostic criteria of hemodynamic orthostatic dizziness/vertigo is to help clinicians to understand the terminology related to orthostatic dizziness/vertigo and to distinguish orthostatic dizziness/vertigo due to global brain hypoperfusion from that caused by other etiologies. Diagnosis of hemodynamic orthostatic dizziness/vertigo requires: A) five or more episodes of dizziness, unsteadiness or vertigo triggered by arising or present during upright position, which subsides by sitting or lying down; B) orthostatic hypotension, postural tachycardia syndrome or syncope documented on standing or during head-up tilt test; and C) not better accounted for by another disease or disorder. Probable hemodynamic orthostatic dizziness/vertigo is defined as follows: A) five or more episodes of dizziness, unsteadiness or vertigo triggered by arising or present during upright position, which subsides by sitting or lying down; B) at least one of the following accompanying symptoms: generalized weakness/tiredness, difficulty in thinking/concentrating, blurred vision, and tachycardia/palpitations; and C) not better accounted for by another disease or disorder. These diagnostic criteria have been derived by expert consensus from an extensive review of 90 years of research on hemodynamic orthostatic dizziness/vertigo, postural hypotension or tachycardia, and autonomic dizziness. Measurements of orthostatic blood pressure and heart rate are important for the screening and documentation of orthostatic hypotension or postural tachycardia syndrome to establish the diagnosis of hemodynamic orthostatic dizziness/vertigo.

Phase Coupling Between Baroreflex Oscillations of Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Changes in 21-Day Dry Immersion

Introduction

Dry immersion (DI) is a ground-based experimental model which reproduces the effects of microgravity on the cardiovascular system and, therefore, can be used to study the mechanisms of post-flight orthostatic intolerance in cosmonauts. However, the effects of long-duration DI on cardiovascular system have not been studied yet. The aim of this work was to study the effects of 21-day DI on systemic hemodynamics and its baroreflex control at rest and during head-up tilt test (HUTT).

Methods

Ten healthy young men were exposed to DI for 21 days. The day before, on the 7th, 14th, and 19th day of DI, as well as on the 1st and 5th days of recovery they were subjected to HUTT: 15 min in supine position and then 15 min of orthostasis (60°). ECG, arterial pressure, stroke volume and respiration rate were continuously recorded during the test. Phase synchronization index (PSI) of beat-to-beat mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) in the frequency band of baroreflex waves (∼0.1 Hz) was used as a quantitative measure of baroreflex activity.

Results

During DI, strong tachycardia and the reduction of stroke volume were observed both in supine position and during HUTT, these indicators did not recover on post-immersion day 5. In contrast, systolic arterial pressure and MAP decreased during HUTT on 14th day of DI, but then restored to pre-immersion values. Before DI and on day 5 of recovery, a transition from supine position to orthostasis was accompanied by an increase in PSI at the baroreflex frequency. However, PSI did not change in HUTT performed during DI and on post-immersion day 1. The amplitude of MAP oscillations at this frequency were increased by HUTT at all time points, while an increase of respective HR oscillations was absent during DI.

Conclusion

21-day DI drastically changed the hemodynamic response to HUTT, while its effect on blood pressure was reduced between days 14 and 19, which speaks in favor of the adaptation to the conditions of DI. The lack of increase in phase synchronization of baroreflex MAP and HR oscillations during HUTT indicates disorders of baroreflex cardiac control during DI.

Effects of Cardiac Sympathetic Neurodegeneration and PPARγ Activation on Rhesus Macaque Whole Blood miRNA and mRNA Expression Profiles

Degeneration of sympathetic innervation of the heart occurs in numerous diseases, including diabetes, idiopathic REM sleep disorder, and Parkinson's disease (PD). In PD, cardiac sympathetic denervation occurs in 80-90% of patients and can begin before the onset of motor symptoms. Today, there are no disease-modifying therapies for cardiac sympathetic neurodegeneration, and biomarkers are limited to radioimaging techniques. Analysis of expression levels of coding mRNA and noncoding RNAs, such as microRNAs (miRNAs), can uncover pathways involved in disease, leading to the discovery of biomarkers, pathological mechanisms, and potential drug targets. Whole blood in particular is a clinically relevant source of biomarkers, as blood sampling is inexpensive and simple to perform. Our research group has previously developed a nonhuman primate model of cardiac sympathetic denervation by intravenous administration of the catecholaminergic neurotoxin 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). In this rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) model, imaging with positron emission tomography showed that oral administration of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) agonist pioglitazone (n = 5; 5 mg/kg daily) significantly decreased cardiac inflammation and oxidative stress compared to placebo (n = 5). Here, we report our analysis of miRNA and mRNA expression levels over time in the whole blood of these monkeys. Differential expression of three miRNAs was induced by 6-OHDA (mml-miR-16-2-3p, mml-miR-133d-3p, and mml-miR-1262-5p) and two miRNAs by pioglitazone (mml-miR-204-5p and mml-miR-146b-5p) at 12 weeks posttoxin, while expression of mRNAs involved in inflammatory cytokines and receptors was not significantly affected. Overall, this study contributes to the characterization of rhesus coding and noncoding RNA profiles in normal and disease-like conditions, which may facilitate the identification and clinical translation of biomarkers of cardiac neurodegeneration and neuroprotection.

Characterization of Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Oscillations of POTS Patients via Uniform Phase Empirical Mode Decomposition

OBJECTIVE

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) is associated with the onset of tachycardia upon postural change. The current diagnosis involves the measurement of heart rate (HR) and blood pressure (BP) during head-up tilt (HUT) or active standing test. A positive diagnosis is made if HR changes with more than 30 bpm (40 bpm in patients aged 12-19 years), ignoring all of the BP and most of the HR signals. This study examines 0.1 Hz oscillations in systolic arterial blood pressure (SBP) and HR signals providing additional metrics characterizing the dynamics of the baroreflex.

METHODS

We analyze data from 28 control subjects and 28 POTS patients who underwent HUT. We extract beat-to-beat HR and SBP during a 10 min interval including 5 minutes of baseline and 5 minutes of HUT. We employ Uniform Phase Empirical Mode Decomposition (UPEMD) to extract 0.1 Hz stationary modes from both signals and use random forest machine learning and k-means clustering to analyze the outcomes. Results show that the amplitude of the 0.1 Hz oscillations is higher in POTS patients and that the phase response between the two signals is shorter (p < 0.005).

CONCLUSION

POTS is associated with an increase in the amplitude of SBP and HR 0.1 Hz oscillation and shortening of the phase between the two signals.

SIGNIFICANCE

The 0.1 Hz phase response and oscillation amplitude metrics provide new markers that can improve POTS diagnostic augmenting the existing diagnosis protocol only analyzing the change in HR.

Vagal and Sympathetic Function in Neuropathic Postural Tachycardia Syndrome

The diagnosis of neuropathic postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) requires research techniques not available clinically. We hypothesized that these patients will have impaired vagal and sympathetic cardiovascular control that can be characterized with clinical autonomic tests. We included 12 POTS patients with possible neuropathic subtype because of normal plasma norepinephrine and no increase in upright blood pressure. We compared them to 10 healthy subjects. We assessed hemodynamics, heart rate and blood pressure variability, baroreflex sensitivity, raw and integrated muscle sympathetic nerve activity, and blood volume. To understand the vagal/sympathetic control, we dissected the phase 2 of Valsalva maneuver (VM) into early (VM2e) and late (VM2l). POTS' upright heart rate increased 43±3 bpm. Patients had normal plasma volume but reduced red blood cell volume (1.29 L versus predicted normal values 1.58 L; P=0.02). Vagal indices of heart rate variability, HF_RRI (430±130 versus 1680±900; P=0.04), PNN50, and root mean squared of successive differences were lower in POTS. Patients showed a decrease in vagal baroreflex sensitivity (VM2e; P=0.04). In POTS, integrated muscle sympathetic nerve activity was lower at rest (12±1.5 versus 20±2 burst/min; P=0.004) and raw muscle sympathetic nerve activity spike analysis showed blunted responses during VM2e, despite a greater drop in systolic blood pressure (34±5 in POTS and 14±6 mm Hg in controls; P=0.01). This cohort of POTS patients enriched for possible neuropathic subtype had lower resting muscle sympathetic nerve activity, impaired vagal cardiac control, and exaggerated drop in blood pressure in response to VM and a delay in the sympathetic cardiovascular responsiveness during hypotensive challenge.

Low-Intensity Exercise Training Increases Heart Rate Variability in Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease

Patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD), consistent with others with atherosclerotic occlusive disorders, have autonomic dysfunction (as measured by low heart rate variability [HRV]) that predisposes them to sympathetically mediated cardiac arrhythmias and sudden death. Exercise therapy has been shown to increase HRV in patients with coronary artery disease by increasing parasympathetic modulation of heart rate. This study quantified the circulatory and autonomic effects of a progressive, 12-week home-based, low-intensity (pain-free walking) exercise program in PAD and intermittent claudication. Participants (N = 33, mean age 67.8 8.1 years) were randomly assigned to either a walking group (n = 18), whose members performed a structured, 12-week, progressive walking program 5 days/week for 12 weeks, or a comparison group (n = 15), whose members performed usual activities. Circulatory measures (heart rate, blood pressure, and rate pressure product) and autonomic measures (HRV) were obtained at the beginning (Week 1) and end (Week 12) of the study. Minimal change in circulatory measures occurred. However, spectral analysis of HRV revealed that autonomic function improved significantly in members of the walking group; specifically, there was an increase in parasympathetic and a decrease in sympathetic modulation. Members of the walking group also significantly increased maximal walking distance. These findings suggest that a structured, low-intensity, high-frequency walking program improves autonomic function by increasing HRV in patients with PAD.

Phase synchronization of baroreflex oscillations of blood pressure and pulse interval in rats: the effects of cardiac autonomic blockade and gradual blood loss

OBJECTIVE

Phase synchronization of arterial pressure (AP) and pulse interval (PI) oscillations in the low-frequency band (around 0.4 Hz in rats) is governed by baroreflex activity. In long-term stationary data recordings, such synchronization can be estimated by the coherence. The phase synchronization index (PSI) can be used as well. The aim of this study was to correlate PSI and the coherence of AP and PI under stationary conditions and to estimate the informativity of PSI as a measure of baroreflex activity during transient processes.

APPROACH

AP and PI were recorded in conscious Wistar rats using femoral artery catheters. To study the hemodynamics during hemorrhage, blood was gradually withdrawn (20 ml × kg^-1 over 30 min) through a catheter in the carotid artery.

MAIN RESULTS

PSI and coherence spectra calculated from 30-minute AP and PI recordings demonstrated distinct peaks at the frequency of 0.4 Hz; these indicators correlate well with each other (Pearson r  =  0.920, p   <  0.0001). Both PSI and coherence were markedly suppressed by vagal blockade (methylatropine) and tended to reduce after sympathetic blockade (atenolol). Importantly, PSI demonstrated dynamic alterations during gradual hemorrhage. During the initial approx. 10 min of hemorrhage, AP did not change but PI was noticeably shortened, and PSI increased, which indicates the activation of the baroreflex. With further blood loss, baroreflex influences were not enough to prevent blood pressure from falling, and under such conditions PSI decreased.

SIGNIFICANCE

PSI, like coherence, is an informative measure of baroreflex activity under stationary conditions. In addition, PSI permits us to follow the coupling between the baroreflex oscillations of AP and PI during transient processes, which strengthens its informative value.

Abnormalities in autonomic function in obese boys at-risk for insulin resistance and obstructive sleep apnea

STUDY OBJECTIVES

Current evidence in adults suggests that, independent of obesity, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can lead to autonomic dysfunction and impaired glucose metabolism, but these relationships are less clear in children. The purpose of this study was to investigate the associations among OSA, glucose metabolism, and daytime autonomic function in obese pediatric subjects.

METHODS

Twenty-three obese boys participated in: overnight polysomnography; a frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance test; and recordings of spontaneous cardiorespiratory data in both the supine (baseline) and standing (sympathetic stimulus) postures.

RESULTS

Baseline systolic blood pressure and reactivity of low-frequency heart rate variability to postural stress correlated with insulin resistance, increased fasting glucose, and reduced beta-cell function, but not OSA severity. Baroreflex sensitivity reactivity was reduced with sleep fragmentation, but only for subjects with low insulin sensitivity and/or low first-phase insulin response to glucose.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that vascular sympathetic activity impairment is more strongly affected by metabolic dysfunction than by OSA severity, while blunted vagal autonomic function associated with sleep fragmentation in OSA is enhanced when metabolic dysfunction is also present.

Circadian hemodynamics in men and women with high blood pressure: dipper vs. nondipper and racial differences

OBJECTIVE

The 'nondipping' pattern of circadian blood pressure (BP) variation is an established independent predictor of adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Although this phenomenon has been widely studied, its underlying circadian hemodynamics of cardiac output and systemic vascular resistance (SVR) have not been well characterized. We evaluated the hypothesis that BP nondipping would be associated with a blunted night-time reduction in SVR in a biracial sample of 140 (63 African-American and 77 white) men and women with elevated clinic BP (130-159/85-99 mmHg).

METHODS AND RESULTS

Twenty-four-hour ambulatory hemodynamics were assessed using standard ambulatory BP monitoring coupled with synchronized ambulatory impedance cardiography. Using the criterion of less than 10% dip in SBP, there were 51 nondippers (SBP dip = 7.3 ± 2.6%) and 89 dippers (SBP dip = 15.5 ± 3.4%). There was minimal change in cardiac output from daytime to night-time in both dippers and nondippers. However, SVR decreased from daytime to night-time, but nondippers compared with dippers exhibited a significantly attenuated decrease in SVR from daytime to night-time (7.8 vs. 16.1%, P < 0.001). Relative to their white counterparts, African-Americans also exhibited blunted SBP dipping (10.9 vs. 14.6%, P < 0.001) as well as an attenuated decrease in SVR (10.8 vs. 15.6%, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Overall, these findings indicate that blunted night-time BP dipping is associated with impairment of the systemic vasodilation that is characteristic of the night-time sleep period and is especially prominent among African-Americans. In the context of high BP, these findings suggest that nondipping may be a manifestation, or marker, of more advanced vascular disease.

Sickle Cell Disease Subjects Have a Distinct Abnormal Autonomic Phenotype Characterized by Peripheral Vasoconstriction With Blunted Cardiac Response to Head-Up Tilt

In sickle cell disease (SCD), prolonged capillary transit times, resulting from reduced peripheral blood flow, increase the likelihood of rigid red cells entrapment in the microvasculature, predisposing to vaso-occlusive crisis. Since changes in peripheral flow are mediated by the autonomic nervous system (ANS), we tested the hypothesis that the cardiac and peripheral vascular responses to head-up tilt (HUT) are abnormal in SCD. Heart rate, respiration, non-invasive continuous blood pressure and finger photoplethysmogram (PPG) were monitored before, during, and after HUT in SCD, anemic controls and healthy subjects. Percent increase in heart rate from baseline was used to quantify cardiac ANS response, while percent decrease in PPG amplitude represented degree of peripheral vasoconstriction. After employing cluster analysis to determine threshold levels, the HUT responses were classified into four phenotypes: (CP) increased heart rate and peripheral vasoconstriction; (C) increased heart rate only; (P) peripheral vasoconstriction only; and (ST) subthreshold cardiac and peripheral vascular responses. Multinomial logistic regression (MLR) was used to relate these phenotypic responses to various parameters representing blood properties and baseline cardiovascular activity. The most common phenotypic response, CP, was found in 82% of non-SCD subjects, including those with chronic anemia. In contrast, 70% of SCD subjects responded abnormally to HUT: C-phenotype = 22%, P-phenotype = 37%, or ST-phenotype = 11%. MLR revealed that the HUT phenotypes were significantly associated with baseline cardiac parasympathetic activity, baseline peripheral vascular variability, hemoglobin level and SCD diagnosis. Low parasympathetic activity at baseline dramatically increased the probability of belonging to the P-phenotype in SCD subjects, even after adjusting for hemoglobin level, suggesting a characteristic autonomic dysfunction that is independent of anemia. Further analysis using a mathematical model of heart rate variability revealed that the low parasympathetic activity in P-phenotype SCD subjects was due to impaired respiratory-cardiac coupling rather than reduced cardiac baroreflex sensitivity. By having strong peripheral vasoconstriction without compensatory cardiac responses, P-phenotype subjects may be at increased risk for vaso-occlusive crisis. The classification of autonomic phenotypes based on HUT response may have potential use for guiding therapeutic interventions to alleviate the risk of adverse outcomes in SCD.

Assessment of Baroreflex Sensitivity Using Time-Frequency Analysis during Postural Change and Hypercapnia

Baroreflex is a mechanism of short-term neural control responsible for maintaining stable levels of arterial blood pressure (ABP) in an ABP-heart rate negative feedback loop. Its function is assessed by baroreflex sensitivity (BRS)—a parameter which quantifies the relationship between changes in ABP and corresponding changes in heart rate (HR). The effect of postural change as well as the effect of changes in blood O₂ and CO₂ have been the focus of multiple previous studies on BRS. However, little is known about the influence of the combination of these two factors on dynamic baroreflex response. Furthermore, classical methods used for BRS assessment are based on the assumption of stationarity that may lead to unreliable results in the case of mostly nonstationary cardiovascular signals. Therefore, we aimed to investigate BRS during repeated transitions between squatting and standing in normal end-tidal CO₂ (EtCO₂) conditions (normocapnia) and conditions of progressively increasing EtCO₂ with a decreasing level of O₂ (hypercapnia with hypoxia) using joint time and frequency domain (TF) approach to BRS estimation that overcomes the limitation of classical methods. Noninvasive continuous measurements of ABP and EtCO₂ were conducted in a group of 40 healthy young volunteers. The time course of BRS was estimated from TF representations of pulse interval variability and systolic pressure variability, their coherence, and phase spectra. The relationship between time-variant BRS and indices of ABP and HR was analyzed during postural change in normocapnia and hypercapnia with hypoxia. In normocapnia, observed trends in all measures were in accordance with previous studies, supporting the validity of presented TF method. Similar but slightly attenuated response to postural change was observed in hypercapnia with hypoxia. Our results show the merits of the nonstationary methods as a tool to study the cardiovascular system during short-term hemodynamic changes.

Exercise-Induced Modulation of Baroreflex Control of Sympathetic Nerve Activity

Exercise modulates arterial pressure (AP) regulation over various time spans. AP increases at the onset of exercise and this increase is then sustained during exercise. Once exercise is stopped, AP is suppressed for up to an hour afterwards. Prolonged endurance training is associated with dysfunction of the sympathetic regulation of AP in response to posture changes (orthostatic intolerance). Baroreflex control of sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) has been extensively studied to understand the mechanisms underlying exercise-induced changes in AP. We have previously presented entire baroreflex AP-SNA curves during and after exercise, and during central volume expansion, obtained using direct measurements of renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) in conscious animals. In this review, we describe the modulatory effects of exercise on baroreflex control of AP based on these entire AP-RSNA baroreflex curves. We suggest that both acute and chronic exercise can have modulatory effects on the entire baroreflex curve for SNA, and that these effects differ among time periods.

Plasma Neuropeptide Y Levels in Vasovagal Syncope in Children

Background:

Vasovagal syncope (VVS) is the most common cause of syncope in children. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) plays an important role in the regulation of blood pressure (BP), as well as myocardial contractility. This study aimed to explore the role of plasma NPY in VVS in children.

Methods:

Fifty-six children who were diagnosed with VVS (VVS group) using head-up tilt test (HUT) and 31 healthy children who were selected as controls (control group) were enrolled. Plasma NPY concentrations were detected. The independent t-test was used to compare the data of the VVS group with those of the control group. The changes in plasma NPY levels in the VVS group during the HUT, as well as hemodynamic parameters, such as heart rate (HR), BP, total peripheral vascular resistance (TPVR), and cardiac output (CO), were evaluated using the paired t-test. Furthermore, the correlations between plasma NPY levels and hemodynamic parameters were analyzed using bivariate correlation analysis.

Results:

The BP, HR, and plasma NPY (0.34 ± 0.12 pg/ml vs. 0.46 ± 0.13 pg/ml) levels in the supine position were statistically low in the VVS group compared to levels in the control group (all P < 0.05). Plasma NPY levels were positively correlated with the HR (Pearson, R = 0.395, P < 0.001) and diastolic BP (Pearson, R = 0.311, P = 0.003) when patients were in the supine position. When patients in the VVS group were in the supine position, elevated TPVR (4.6 ± 3.7 mmHg·min⁻¹·L⁻¹ vs. 2.5 ± 1.0 mmHg·min⁻¹·L⁻¹, respectively, P < 0.001; 1 mmHg = 0.133 kPa) and reduced CO (1.0 ± 0.7 L/min vs. 2.4 ± 1.3 L/min, respectively, P < 0.001) were observed in the positive-response period compared with baseline values. The plasma NPY levels were positively correlated with TPVR (Spearman, R = 0.294, P = 0.028) but negatively correlated with CO in the positive-response period during HUT (Spearman, R = −0.318, P = 0.017).

Conclusions:

Plasma NPY may contribute to the pathogenesis of VVS by increasing the TPVR and decreasing the CO during orthostatic regulation.

From the Cover: Evaluation of the Effects of Tanezumab, a Monoclonal Antibody Against Nerve Growth Factor, on the Sympathetic Nervous System in Adult Cynomolgus Monkeys (Macaca fascicularis): A Stereologic, Histomorphologic, and Cardiofunctional Assessment

Tanezumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody against nerve growth factor is in development for treatment of chronic pain. Three nonclinical studies assessed effects of clinically relevant and supratherapeutic doses of tanezumab on the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) of adult nonhuman primates. Study 1 evaluated potential effects of subcutaneous (SC) tanezumab (1.2 mg/kg every 8 weeks [Q8W]) on SNS in cynomolgus monkeys for 3 or 6 months and reversibility or persistence of any effects through a nondosing/recovery period. Study 2 evaluated whether neuronal cell death occurs shortly after a single SC tanezumab injection (1.2 mg/kg). Assessments for these two studies included evaluations of superior cervical and cervicothoracic ganglia for neuronal cell death and morphology. Study 3 evaluated effects of SC tanezumab (1.2 mg/kg Q8W and 30 mg/kg/week) over 6 months on sympathetic control of cardiovascular function. Tanezumab exposure was associated with stereologic changes in sympathetic ganglia, including smaller ganglion volume, and smaller average neuron size/area beginning at 2 weeks and reaching maximal levels by 1 month with no further progression through 6 months. These changes were not associated with clinical signs, completely reversed upon tanezumab withdrawal, and were not considered adverse. Tanezumab had no adverse effects on sympathetic control of cardiovascular function. These data support the conclusion that tanezumab administration for up to 6 months has no adverse effects on SNS morphology or function and does not cause neuronal cell death in adult nonhuman primates.

Cardiovascular adjustments during anticipated postural changes

It is well‐documented that feedforward cardiovascular responses occur at the onset of exercise, but it is unclear if such responses are associated with other types of movements. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that feedforward cardiovascular responses occur when a passive (imposed) 60° head‐up tilt is anticipated, such that changes in heart rate and carotid artery blood flow (CBF) commence prior to the onset of the rotation. A light cue preceded head‐up tilts by 10 sec, and heart rate and CBF were determined for 5‐sec time periods prior to and during tilts. Even after these stimuli were provided for thousands of trials spanning several months, no systematic changes in CBF and heart rate occurred prior to tilts, and variability in cardiovascular adjustments during tilt remained substantial over time. We also hypothesized that substitution of 20° for 60° tilts in a subset of trials would result in exaggerated cardiovascular responses (as animals expected 60° tilts), which were not observed. These data suggest that cardiovascular adjustments during passive changes in posture are mainly elicited by feedback mechanisms, and that anticipation of passive head‐up tilts does not diminish the likelihood that a decrease in carotid blood flow will occur during the movements.

Association of blood pressure variability with orthostatic intolerance symptoms

The short-term blood pressure variability (BPV) reflects autonomic regulatory mechanisms. However, the influence of BPV in orthostatic intolerance (OI) is unknown. Herein, we assessed BPV profiles in patients with OI and determined their association with orthostatic symptoms. In this cross-sectional study, we prospectively enrolled 126 patients presenting with OI at the Seoul National University Hospital from December 2014 to August 2016. Among them, those with other neurological diseases (n = 8) and insufficient BP measurements (n = 15) were excluded. The degree of OI symptoms were measured using the self-administered orthostatic intolerance questionnaire (OIQ). All patients underwent ambulatory BP monitoring and we calculated the standard deviation and coefficient of variation as a measure of BPV. The mean age was 48.6 years and the average of the total OIQ score was 11.6. The severe OI group had higher BPV values than the mild group, although mean BP profiles did not differ significantly. Correlation analysis demonstrated that the orthostatic symptoms were positively correlated with diastolic BPV for the total and awake periods. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that diastolic BPV (B = 0.46, p = 0.031) and current smoking (B = 4.687, p = 0.018) were independent factors for higher OI symptom scores after adjusting for covariates. The results of the current study demonstrated that a positive correlation exists between BPV and OI symptoms. Further studies are required to confirm the present findings and understand the neural mechanisms contributing to the excessive BPV in patients with OI.

Postural Heart Rate Changes in Young Patients With Vasovagal Syncope

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Recurrent postural vasovagal syncope (VVS) is caused by transient cerebral hypoperfusion from episodic hypotension and bradycardia; diagnosis is made by medical history. VVS contrasts with postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS), defined by chronic daily symptoms of orthostatic intolerance with excessive upright tachycardia without hypotension. POTS has recently been conflated with VVS when excessive tachycardia is succeeded by hypotension during tilt testing. We hypothesize that excessive tachycardia preceding hypotension and bradycardia is part of the vasovagal response during tilt testing of patients with VVS.

METHODS

We prospectively performed head-up tilt (HUT) testing on patients with recurrent VVS (n = 47, 17.9 ± 1.1 y), who fainted at least 3 times within the last year, and control subjects (n = 15, 17.1 ± 1.0 y), from age and BMI-matched volunteers and measured blood pressure, heart rate (HR), cardiac output, total peripheral resistance, and end tidal carbon dioxide.

RESULTS

Baseline parameters were the same in both groups. HR (supine versus 5 and 10 minutes HUT) significantly increased in control (65 ± 2.6 vs 83 ± 3.6 vs 85 ± 3.7, P < .001) and patients with VVS (69 ± 1.6 vs 103 ± 2.3 vs 109 ± 2.4, P < .001). HUT in controls maximally increased HR by 20.3 ± 2.9 beats per minute; the increase in patients with VVS of 39.8 ± 2.1 beats per minute was significantly greater (P < .001). An increase in HR of ≥40 beats per minute by 5 and 10 minutes or before faint with HUT, occurred in 26% and 44% of patients with VVS, respectively, but not in controls.

CONCLUSIONS

Orthostasis in VVS is accompanied by large increases in HR that should not be construed as POTS.

Retention of finger blood flow against postural change as an indicator of successful sympathetic block in the upper limb

Background

Sympathetic block in the upper limb has diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic utility for disorders in the upper extremity that are associated with sympathetic disturbances. Increased skin temperature and decreased sweating are used to identify the adequacy of sympathetic block in the upper limb after stellate ganglion block (SGB). Baroreflexes elicited by postural change induce a reduction in peripheral blood flow by causing sympathetic vasoconstriction. We hypothesized that sympathetic block in the upper limb reduces the decrease in finger blood flow caused by baroreflexes stimulated by postural change from the supine to long sitting position. This study evaluated if sympathetic block of the upper limb affects the change in finger blood flow resulting from postural change. If change in finger blood flow would be kept against postural changes, it has a potential to be a new indicator of sympathetic blockade in the upper limb.

Methods

Subjects were adult patients who had a check-up at the Department of Pain Management in our university hospital over 2 years and 9 months from May 2012. We executed a total of 91 SGBs in nine patients (N=9), which included those requiring treatment for pain associated with herpes zoster in seven of the patients, tinnitus in one patient and upper limb pain in one patient. We checked for the following four signs after performing SGB: Horner’s sign, brachial nerve blockade, finger blood flow measured by a laser blood flow meter and skin temperature of the thumb measured by thermography, before and after SGB in the supine position and immediately after adopting the long sitting position.

Results

We executed a total of 91 SGBs in nine patients. Two SGBs were excluded from the analysis due to the absence of Horner’s sign. We divided 89 procedures into two groups according to elevation in skin temperature of the thumb: by over 1°C (sympathetic block group, n=62) and by <1°C (nonsympathetic block group, n=27). Finger blood flow decreased significantly just after a change in posture from the supine to long sitting position after SGB in both groups. In the sympathetic block group, the ratio of finger blood flow in the long sitting position/supine position with a change in posture significantly increased after SGB compared with before SGB (before SGB: range 0.09–0.94, median 0.53; after SGB: range 0.33–1.2, median 0.89, p<0.0001).

Conclusion

Our study shows that with sympathetic block in the upper limb, the ratio of finger blood flow significantly increases despite baroreflexes stimulated by postural change from the supine to long sitting position. Retention of finger blood flow against postural changes may be an indicator of sympathetic block in the upper limb after SGB or brachial plexus block.

Mechanisms of Vasovagal Syncope in the Young: Reduced Systemic Vascular Resistance Versus Reduced Cardiac Output

BACKGROUND

Syncope is a sudden transient loss of consciousness and postural tone caused by cerebral hypoperfusion. The most common form is vasovagal syncope (VVS). Presyncopal progressive early hypotension in older VVS patients is caused by reduced cardiac output (CO); younger patients have reduced systemic vascular resistance (SVR). Using a priori criteria for reduced CO (↓CO) and SVR (↓SVR), we studied 48 recurrent young fainters comparing subgroups of VVS with VVS-↓CO, VVS-↓SVR, and both VVS-↓CO&↓SVR.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Subjects were studied supine and during 70-degrere upright tilt with a Finometer to continuously measure blood pressure, CO, and SVR and impedance plethysmography to estimate thoracic, splanchnic, pelvic, and calf blood volumes, blood flows, and vascular resistances and electrocardiogram to measure heart rate and rhythm. Central blood volume was decreased in all VVS compared to control. VVS-↓CO was associated with decreased splanchnic blood flow and increased splanchnic blood pooling compared to control. Seventy-five percent of VVS patients had reduced SVR, including 23% who also had reduced CO. Many VVS-↓SVR increased CO during tilt, with no difference in splanchnic pooling, caused by significant increases in splanchnic blood flow and reduced splanchnic resistance. VVS-↓CO&↓SVR patients had splanchnic pooling comparable to VVS-↓CO patients, but SVR comparable to VVS-↓SVR. Splanchnic vasodilation was reduced, compared to VVS-↓SVR, and venomotor properties were similar to control. Combined splanchnic pooling and reduced SVR produced the earliest faints among the VVS groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Both ↓CO and ↓SVR occur in young VVS patients. ↓SVR is predominant in VVS and is caused by impaired splanchnic vasoconstriction.

Orthostatic Circulatory Disorders: From Nosology to Nuts and Bolts

When patients complain of altered consciousness or discomfort in the upright posture, either relieved by recumbency or culminating in syncope, physicians may find themselves baffled. There is a wide variety of disorders that cause abnormal regulation of blood pressure and pulse rate in the upright posture. The aim of this focused review is 3-fold. First, to offer a classification (nosology) of these disorders; second, to illuminate the mechanisms that underlie them; and third, to assist the physician in the practical aspects of diagnosis of adult orthostatic hypotension, by extending clinical skills with readily available office technology.

Head-up tilt rapidly compromises hemodynamics in healthy anesthetized swine

The aims were to explore the effect of head-up tilt (HUT) to 30 and 60 degrees on hemodynamics and tissue oxygenation in anesthetized healthy swine. The data serve as a reference for a study of resuscitation efficacy at HUT such as during transport. Nine healthy swine (49+/-4 kg) were anesthetized and multiple sensors including myocardial pressure-volume loops catheter, carotid flow probe, blood pressure catheters, near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) tissue oximetry and mixed venous oximetry (SVO2) catheter were introduced and parameters continuously recorded. Experimental protocol consisted of baseline in supine position (15 min), 30 degrees HUT (15 min), recovery at supine position (15 min) and 60 degrees HUT (5 min). Vacuum mattress was used for body fixation during tilts. We found that 30 and 60 degrees inclination led to significant immediate reduction in hemodynamic and oximetry parameters. Mean arterial pressure (mm Hg) decreased from 98 at baseline to 53 and 39, respectively. Carotid blood flow dropped to 47 % and 22 % of baseline values, end diastolic volume to 49 % and 53 % and stroke volume to 47 % and 45 % of baseline. SVO2 and tissue oximetry decreased by 17 and 21 percentage points. The values are means. In conclusions, within minutes, both 30 and 60 degrees head-up tilting is poorly tolerated in anesthetized swine. Significant differences among individual animals exist.

Monitoring Fatigue Status with HRV Measures in Elite Athletes: An Avenue Beyond RMSSD?

Among the tools proposed to assess the athlete's “fatigue,” the analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) provides an indirect evaluation of the settings of autonomic control of heart activity. HRV analysis is performed through assessment of time-domain indices, the square root of the mean of the sum of the squares of differences between adjacent normal R-R intervals (RMSSD) measured during short (5 min) recordings in supine position upon awakening in the morning and particularly the logarithm of RMSSD (LnRMSSD) has been proposed as the most useful resting HRV indicator. However, if RMSSD can help the practitioner to identify a global “fatigue” level, it does not allow discriminating different types of fatigue. Recent results using spectral HRV analysis highlighted firstly that HRV profiles assessed in supine and standing positions are independent and complementary; and secondly that using these postural profiles allows the clustering of distinct sub-categories of “fatigue.” Since, cardiovascular control settings are different in standing and lying posture, using the HRV figures of both postures to cluster fatigue state embeds information on the dynamics of control responses. Such, HRV spectral analysis appears more sensitive and enlightening than time-domain HRV indices. The wealthier information provided by this spectral analysis should improve the monitoring of the adaptive training-recovery process in athletes.

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.