Contradictory effects of β1- and α1- aderenergic receptor blockers on cardio-ankle vascular stiffness index (CAVI)--CAVI independent of blood pressure.
OBJECTIVE
The cardio-ankle vascular stiffness index (CAVI) is a new parameter that reflects the stiffness of the aorta, femoral artery and tibial artery as a whole. One of its conspicuous features is that CAVI is independent of blood pressure at measuring time, theoretically. But, it has not been experimentally proved yet. For confirmation, pharmacological studies were performed comparing with brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV).


METHODS
Used drugs were a β1-adrenoceptor blocker, metoprorol and an α1- adrenoceptor blocker doxazosin. Both were administered to 12 healthy volunteer men. CAVI and baPWV were measured every one hour for 6 hours using VaSera.


RESULTS
When metoprolol (80 mg) was administered to 12 healthy volunteer men, systolic blood pressure decreased from 131.4 ± 4.5 to 118.3 ± 4.1 mmHg (mean ± SE) (p < 0.05) at the 3rd hour, and diastolic blood pressure decreased from 85.3 ± 4.0 to 75.3 ± 3.0 mm Hg (p < 0.05). baP-WV decreased from 13.93 ± 0.46 to 12.46 ± 0.49 m/sec (p < 0.05), significantly, but CAVI did not change (8.16 ± 0.29 to 8.24 ± 0.27) (p = 0.449). ΔbaPWV at each time was significantly correlated with both Δsystolic and Δdiastolic blood pressures, but ΔCAVI was not correlated with either Δblood pressure. When doxazosin (4 mg) was administered to the same men, systolic blood pressure decreased from 130.2 ± 4.6 to 117.2 ± 4.8 mmHg (p < 0.05) at the 3rd hour. Diastolic blood pressure also decreased from 85.1 ± 4.1 to 74.2 ± 3.9 mmHg (p < 0.05). baPWV decreased from 13.98 ± 0.68 to 12.25 ± 0.53 m/sec (p < 0.05), significantly. CAVI also decreased from 8.15 ± 0.28 to 7.18 ± 0.37 (p < 0.05), significantly.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggested that CAVI was not affected by blood pressure at the measuring time directly, but affected by the changes of contractility of smooth muscle cells.
Internal Medicine, Sakura Hospital, School of Medicine, Toho University, Chiba, Japan. kshirai@kb3.so-net.ne.jp
Kohji
K
Shirai
Mingling
M
Song
Jun
J
Suzuki
Takumi
T
Kurosu
Tomokazu
T
Oyama
Daiji
D
Nagayama
Yoh
Y
Miyashita
Shigeo
S
Yamamura
Mao
M
Takahashi
D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000328:Adult; D055109:Ankle Brachial Index; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018340:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1 / Q000187:drug effects*; D018342:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-1 / Q000187:drug effects*
D000317:Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D018340:Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha-1; D018342:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta-1