Volume-pressure analysis of reflex changes in forearm venous function. A method by mental arithmetic stress and radionuclide plethysmography

V. J.B. Robinson, D. E. Manyari, J. V. Tyberg, G. H. Fick, E. R. Smith

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

28 Scopus citations

Abstract

Mental arithmetic stress is known to cause forearm arterial dilation, but the venous responses, including possible changes in the volume-pressure relation, have not been defined. Hence, 10 apparently normal subjects, eight men and two women, mean age 46 ± 9 years, were studied before and during mental arithmetic stress. Changes in forearm venous volume were estimated with 99mTc blood pool scintigraphy. Group variability of this measurement technique was 1.8 ± 2.3%. A brachial blood pressure cuff was used to obtained venous occluding pressures of 0, 10, 20, and 30 mm Hg. Mental arithmetic stress increased group systolic and diastolic blood pressure from 126 ± 12 to 152 ± 20 mm Hg and from 83 ± 8 to 93 ± 15 mm Hg, respectively (p < 0.001). Heart rate increased from a mean of 75 ± 15 to 85 ± 17 beats/min (p < 0.01). There was no evidence of interaction between or nonlinearity of the volume-pressure plots. Linear regression then yielded the equations V = 99.8 + 0.96P before and V = 86.3 = 0.96P during mental arithmetic stress, which represents a 13.5 ± 1.6% decrease in forearm vascular volume (p < 0.001). We conclude that 1) a linear relation exits between forearm venous volume and pressure at physiologic pressures before and during mental arithmetic stress; 2) mental arithmetic stress causes forearm venoconstriction; and 3) such venoconstriction takes place by a parallel shift in the volume-pressure relation (i.e., a shift in unstressed venous volume).

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)99-105
Number of pages7
JournalCirculation
Volume80
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1989
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Physiology (medical)

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