Preserved cardiac function after chronic spinal cord injury.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the effect of chronic deconditioning on cardiac dimensions and function in subjects with high-level spinal cord injury (SCI), who represent a human in-vivo model of extreme inactivity.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
University medical center.


METHODS
Seven men with tetraplegia and 7 able-bodied controls.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
Echocardiographic measurements of resting cardiac dimensions, systolic function, and global and long-axis diastolic function.


RESULTS
Left ventricular mass index was significantly lower in the subjects with SCI than in the controls (90.8+/-26 g/m(2) vs 122+/-28.9 g/m(2); P=.05). In addition, dimensions of left ventricle, left atrium, and vena cava inferior were all significantly reduced in the subjects with SCI compared with controls (P<.05). There were no differences between the groups for any of the parameters reflecting systolic and global and long-axis diastolic function.


CONCLUSIONS
Tetraplegia is associated with a reduction in cardiac mass and dimensions. Resting diastolic and systolic function is not altered with continued exposure to inactivity, however, which suggests a remodeling of the heart as a physiologic adaptive process.
de Groot
Patricia C
PC
Department of Physiology, Radboud University Medical Centre Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
van Dijk
Arie
A
Dijk
Erika
E
Hopman
Maria T
MT
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004452:Echocardiography; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016276:Ventricular Function / Q000502:physiology*