Pulmonary hemodynamics during a strenuous intermittent exercise in healthy subjects.
OBJECTIVE
It has been suggested that an intermittent work exercise test (IWET) is as efficient but better tolerated than continuous exercise for rehabilitation. Although systemic and pulmonary cardiovascular adjustments have been investigated for continuous exercise, it has not been done for IWET with exercise bouts near maximal work rate.


METHODS
In seven healthy subjects, the pulmonary hemodynamics have been studied by the aid of heart catheterization during a strenuous 30-min bicycle IWET where a 4-min work set at the first ventilatory threshold (VT1) alternated with a 1-min work set at the second ventilatory threshold (VT2).


RESULTS
During the IWET, cardiac output increased then remained stable with decreasing stroke volume and increasing heart rate, which became near maximal at the end of the test. Mean pulmonary arterial pressure increased from rest to the fifth minute of exercise and decreased significantly thereafter (P<0.01). An identical evolution was observed for mean systemic arterial pressure (SAP).


CONCLUSIONS
Pulmonary hemodynamics adapt well in healthy subjects during a strenuous IWET despite the performance of exercise bouts of near maximal intensity.
Department of Clinical Physiology and UPRES EA 3072, University Hospital of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France. Eve.Lonsdorfer@physio-ulp.u-strasbg.fr
Evelyne
E
Lonsdorfer-Wolf
Ruddy
R
Richard
Stephane
S
Doutreleau
Veronique L
VL
Billat
Monique
M
Oswald-Mammosser
Jean
J
Lonsdorfer
D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002302:Cardiac Output; D015444:Exercise; D006339:Heart Rate; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation / Q000502:physiology*; D012146:Rest; D013318:Stroke Volume