Activity of cardiopulmonary baroreceptors, peripheral resistance and cutaneous microcirculation in patients with peripheral obstructive arterial disease.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effects of cardiopulmonary baroreceptors on the haemodynamics of the humeral and common carotid arteries in patients suffering from peripheral artery disease (PAD) and to discover whether the stimulation of these receptors modifies the cutaneous microcirculation in the forearm.


METHODS
We studied a group of patients suffering from peripheral artery disease and two groups as controls.


METHODS
Patients were examined at the ambulatory for Vascular Research, Division of Vascular Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Verona.


METHODS
We studied 15 patients with peripheral artery disease of the lower limbs at Fontaine stage II (group C), 10 free of arterial pathologies (group B) and 10 young people (group A).


METHODS
We subjected the patients to passive elevation of the legs and the trunk in a horizontal position with pressure monitoring and measurement of the calibre and flow in the brachial and common carotid arteries using a colourDoppler ultrasound. We also studied the cutaneous microcirculation with laserDoppler flowmetry.


RESULTS
During the test, arterial pressure and cardiac frequency remained constant in group A, systolic pressure values showed a slight, but statistically significant increase in group B, whilst the increase in systolic pressure values at this stage was marked in group C. Diastolic pressure values and cardiac frequency remained unchanged in all groups. The calibre of the humeral artery increased in the control groups. Carotid resistance was unchanged in the three groups. Humeral resistance during the test decreased in the two control groups whilst it increased in group C. The number of perfusion units felt in the control groups; no variations in group C.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study demonstrates, in patients with peripheral artery disease, a reduction in the activity of the cardiopulmonary baroreceptors with an increase in the humeral resistance during the test and impairment of the mechanisms of cutaneous microcirculatory vasoregulation in the forearm.
Arosio
E
E
Division of Vascular Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Verona, Valeggio sul Mincio, Italy. riabvasc@linus.univr.it
De Marchi
S
S
Prior
M
M
Zannoni
M
M
Lucchese
L
L
Lechi
A
A
D000368:Aged; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D001810:Blood Volume / Q000502:physiology; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000294:innervation; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000294:innervation; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006706:Homeostasis / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000503:physiopathology; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply; D008168:Lung / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000503:physiopathology; D011311:Pressoreceptors / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply*; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology*