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MICROVASCULAR FUNCTION IS IMPAIRED IN ADULTS WHO REPORTED ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EVENTS
Author(s) -
Miguelez Paula Rodriguez,
Thomas Jeffrey,
Seigler Nichole,
Pollock Jennifer S,
Harris Ryan A
Publication year - 2016
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.30.1_supplement.948.6
Subject(s) - reactive hyperemia , medicine , iontophoresis , microcirculation , endothelial dysfunction , cardiology , vasodilation , laser doppler velocimetry , adverse effect , blood flow , radiology
Microvascular function, assessed using the cutaneous microcirculation, has been proposed as a prognostic marker of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Adversity early in life, referred to as adverse childhood events (ACEs), has been associated with the development of CVDs during adulthood. Whether or not microvascular dysfunction is present in adults who report ACEs has yet to be investigated. PURPOSE This study sought to test the hypothesis that microvascular function is lower in adults who reported ACEs compared to adults who did not. METHODS Nineteen young adults (33 ± 2 yrs), with no evidence of overt CVDs, were separated into two groups based on their self‐reported ACE study questionnaire score; HiA: ACE score ≥ 4 (n=9) or NoA: ACE score = 0 (n=10). Augmentation index at 75 bpm (AIx75) was determined by applanation tonometry (SphygmoCor) as an independent predictor of CVD risk. Laser Doppler flowmetry (MoorVMS‐LDF) was used to evaluate microvascular function non‐invasively through the assessment of cutaneous flux (expressed as a perfusion unit (PU)) during baseline (BL), post‐occlusive reactive hyperemia (PORH), local thermal hyperemia (Ht), and iontophoresis of acetylcholine (Ach). RESULTS No differences in BL cutaneous flux were observed between groups (HiA: 12.1 ± 15.4 vs. NoA: 7.6 ± 4.8 PU), p =0.387). The PORH response was significantly lower ( p =0.039) in HiA (25.1 ± 9.7 PU) compared with NoA (37.0 ± 13.1 PU). Additionally, endothelium‐dependent vasodilation, assessed by the iontophoresis of Ach peak flux relative to maximal Ht flux was significantly lower ( p =0.009) in HiA compared to NoA (64 ± 24 vs. 119 ± 52 %, respectively). Further, strong correlations were identified between maximal Ach response and AIx75 ( r =−0.475; p =0.040) and between ACE score and both PORH ( r =−0.430; p= 0.066) and maximal Ach response ( r =−0.501: p =0.029). CONCLUSION For the first time, we have documented an impaired microvascular response and a reduced endothelium‐dependent cutaneous vasodilation in adults who have reported ACEs compared with adults who did not report any ACE. These findings suggest that the contribution of ACEs to CVDs later in life may be through a reduction in microvascular function. Support or Funding Information Support in part by NIH/NHLBI P01HL06999.