title: Evidence of microvascular dysfunction in patients with cystic fibrosis.
abstract: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic, multisystemic disorder with broad clinical manifestations apart from the well-characterized pulmonary dysfunction. Recent findings have described impairment in conduit vessel function in patients with CF; however, whether microvascular function is affected in this population has yet to be elucidated. Using laser-Doppler imaging, we evaluated microvascular function through postocclusive reactive hyperemia (PORH), local thermal hyperemia (LTH), and iontophoresis with acetylcholine (ACh). PORH [518 ± 174% (CF) and 801 ± 125% (control), P = 0.039], LTH [1,338 ± 436% (CF) and 1,574 ± 620% (control), P = 0.045], and iontophoresis with ACh [416 ± 140% (CF) and 617 ± 143% (control), P = 0.032] were significantly lower in patients with CF than control subjects. In addition, the ratio of PORH to LTH was significantly (P = 0.043) lower in patients with CF (55.3 ± 5.1%) than control subjects (68.8 ± 3.1%). Significant positive correlations between LTH and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (%predicted) (r = 0.441, P = 0.013) and between the PORH-to-LTH ratio and exercise capacity (r = 0.350, P = 0.049) were observed. These data provide evidence of microvascular dysfunction in patients with CF compared with control subjects. In addition, our data demonstrate a complex relationship between microvascular function and classical markers of disease severity (i.e., pulmonary function and exercise capacity) in CF.
authors.affiliation: Georgia Prevention Institute, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia;
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rodriguez-Miguelez
authors.affiliation: Georgia Prevention Institute, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia;
authors.forename: Jeffrey
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: Georgia Prevention Institute, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia;
authors.forename: Nichole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Seigler
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Pulmonology, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia;
authors.forename: Reva
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Crandall
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Pulmonology, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia;
authors.forename: Kathleen T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: McKie
authors.affiliation: Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia; and.
authors.forename: Caralee
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Forseen
authors.affiliation: Georgia Prevention Institute, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia; Sport and Exercise Science Research Institute, University of Ulster, Jordanstown, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom ryharris@augusta.edu.
authors.forename: Ryan A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Harris
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D005260:Female; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume; D005542:Forearm / Q000098:blood supply*; D006801:Humans; D006940:Hyperemia / Q000503:physiopathology; D007478:Iontophoresis; D017078:Laser-Doppler Flowmetry; D008168:Lung / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000187:drug effects; D055806:Microvessels / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014797:Vital Capacity; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D000109:Acetylcholine
keywords: cystic fibrosis; endothelial function; endothelium-dependent vasodilation; microvascular function