This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 23/9/1660    most recent 01.ATV.0000089471.61037.21v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Barreto-Filho, J. A. S. Articles by Krieger, E. M. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Barreto-Filho, J. A. S. Articles by Krieger, E. M. Related Collections Lipids Autonomic, reflex, and neurohumoral control of circulation Endothelium/vascular type/nitric oxide

(Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 2003;23:1660.)
© 2003 American Heart Association, Inc.

Atherosclerosis and Lipoproteins

Hypercholesterolemia Blunts Forearm Vasorelaxation and Enhances the Pressor Response During Acute Systemic Hypoxia

José Augusto S. Barreto-Filho; Fernanda Marciano Consolim-Colombo; Grazia Maria Guerra-Riccio; Raul D. Santos; Ana Paula Chacra; Heno Ferreira Lopes; Sandra H. Teixeira; Tânia Martinez; José Eduardo Krieger; Eduardo Moacyr Krieger

From The Hypertension Unit, Heart Institute (InCor), University of São Paulo Medical School, Brazil.

Address correspondence to José Augusto S. Barreto-Filho, MD, Hypertension Unit, Heart Institute–InCor–HCFMUSP, Av.Dr.Eneas de Carvalho Aguiar, 44, 05403-000 São Paulo, Brazil. E-mail jose.barreto{at}incor.usp.br

Objective— During hypoxia, active substances released by the endothelium play a key role in the cardiovascular and respiratory responses elicited to optimize oxygen delivery. As hypercholesterolemia is a major cause of endothelial dysfunction, it may interfere with these responses.

Methods and Results— We studied cardiovascular and ventilatory responses to acute systemic hypoxia in 14 patients with hypercholesterolemia (HC) and 13 control (CO) subjects. Oxygen saturation decreased similarly in both groups. Diastolic blood pressure increased only in the HC group (P=0.0002) and, despite systolic blood pressure increases both in the HC group, 140±4 (95% confidence interval [CI],131 to 149 mm Hg) to 154±4 mm Hg (95% CI,145 to 164 mm Hg), and in the CO group, 133±3 (95% CI,126 to 140 mm Hg) to 140±4 mm Hg (95% CI,132 to 148 mm Hg), the HC group showed an enhanced pressor response (P=0.03, group comparison). Both groups had increased forearm blood flow, but the decrease in forearm vascular resistance in the CO group, 40±5 (95% CI, 30 to 51 UR) to 31±4 UR (95% CI,23 to 39 UR) (P=0.0001) was not seen in the HC group, 29±3 (95% CI, 22 to 37 UR) to 26±3 UR (95% CI, 20 to 33 UR), (P=0.03, group comparison).

Conclusions— Hypercholesterolemic patients demonstrate a hyperreactive pressor response and absence of forearm vasodilation during acute systemic hypoxia.

Key Words: lipids • endothelium • hypoxia • blood flow • blood pressure

This article has been cited by other articles:

				A.C. Sposito Emerging insights into hypertension and dyslipidaemia synergies Eur. Heart J. Suppl., December 1, 2004; 6(suppl_G): G8 - G12. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]