Premium
Pulmonary vascular reactivity with ageing
Author(s) -
Pugh Keith,
Balanos George
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.27.1_supplement.1140.13
Subject(s) - medicine , hypoxia (environmental) , pulmonary hypertension , ageing , hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction , cardiology , pulmonary artery , vasoconstriction , anesthesia , oxygen , chemistry , organic chemistry
Sleep apnoea (SA) and pulmonary hypertension are closely linked and SA is also a common condition in older people. It is possible that if ageing is associated with greater hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) older SA patients could be at greater risk of developing pulmonary hypertension because of repeated intermittent hypoxia. 6 young and 6 older participants (mean age ± S.D = 20.4 ± 0.5 and 56.5 ± 2.6 years, respectively) undertook two protocols. A hypoxia protocol consisted of 5 min isocapnic euoxia (PETO2 = 100 mmHg, PETCO2 = 1 mmHg >; normal) followed by 20 min isocapnic hypoxia (PETO2 = 50 mmHg, PETCO2 = 1 mmHg >; normal), followed by a further 5 min isocapnic euoxia. A control protocol consisted of 30 min isocapnic euoxia. During both protocols pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) and cardiac output were measured continuously using Doppler echocardiography. Baseline PAP was greater in older participants (21.6 ± 0.7 mmHg vs. 19.2 ± 1.1 mmHg, p <0.05). During hypoxia PAP rose more in older participants than in younger (13.3 ± 1.3 mmHg vs. 8.3 ± 1.0 mmHg, respectively, p<0.001). Cardiac output was similar between the two groups (p>;0.05). All data are mean ± SEM. Our results support the hypothesis that HPV is more pronounced in older people. A greater HPV response to intermittent hypoxia during the night could play a role in the development of pulmonary hypertension in older SA patients.