Cardiovascular responses to hypovolemic circulatory stress in women : With special reference to venous compliance and capacitance

• Main Author: Lindenberger, Marcus
• Format: Doctoral Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: Linköpings universitet, Fysiologi 2008
• Subjects: Cardiac and Cardiovascular Systems; Kardiologi
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:liu:diva-15420; http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:isbn:978-91-7393-756-6

Acute haemorrhage is a leading cause of death in trauma. Young women (YW) seem more susceptible to hypovolemic circulatory stress than young men (YM), but the underlying mechanisms are not clear. Elderly subjects are more vulnerable to haemorrhage, with a decreased defence of central blood volume in elderly men, but the defence has not been evaluated in elderly women  (EW). The aims were to assess differences in cardiovascular responses to hypovolemic circulatory stress, emphasizing compensatory mechanisms to maintain central blood volume in YW, EW and in women prone to vaso‐vagal reaction (VW). Lower body negative pressure (LBNP) was used as a model for haemorrhage and to create acute hypovolemic stress. Volumetric techniques were used to assess venous compliance, capacitance and capillary fluid exchange both caused by LBNP in the calf and the response to maintain central blood volume. LBNP induced a comparable hypovolemic stimulus in YW and YM, with lower calf venous compliance and capacitance but higher net capillary fluid filtration in YW. YW responded with smaller vasoconstriction without association between P‐NE and peripheral vascular resistance in contrast to YM. Venous capacitance response was decreased with time in YW. Further, net capillary fluid absorption from peripheral tissues to central circulation was decreased in YW in response to hypovolemic stress. All in all, this indicates less efficiency to defend central blood volume in young women. Calf venous compliance and capacitance was maintained in EW compared to YW but capillary filtration was decreased, implying reduced capillary function with age. With increasing transmural pressures however, filtration and capillary filtration coefficient (CFC) increased indicating increased capillary susceptibility to transmural pressure load in dependent regions with age. Heart rate increase was attenuated in EW while peripheral vascular conductance was maintained suggesting reduced cardiovagal baroreceptor function in response to hypovolemia with age. Venous capacitance response and fluid absorption from peripheral tissues to central circulation were decreased with age, indicating less efficiency to defend central blood volume. LBNP induced a slower hypovolemic stimulus in VW compared with nonvagal women. Further, the cardiopulmonary baroreflex was less efficient, and the venous capacitance response from peripheral tissues to central circulation was decreased, which may explain their susceptibility to orthostatic challenge.