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Updated: Aug 12, 2026
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Non-invasive Assessment of Microvascular and Endothelial Function
Published on: January 29, 2013
Forearm vasoconstriction during dynamic leg exercise in patients with chronic heart failure
J J Atherton1, L G Dryburgh, H L Thomson
1Department of Medicine, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
Heart and Vessels
|January 29, 2000
Summary
Vascular constriction in nonexercising limbs is heightened in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients with severe symptoms and hemodynamic compromise, especially when diastolic ventricular interaction (DVI) is present. This finding helps explain varied sympathetic responses during exercise in heart failure.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Previous studies on vascular responses in nonexercising limbs during exercise in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients show inconsistent results.
- Clinical and hemodynamic severity of heart failure may contribute to these variations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if clinical and hemodynamic severity, particularly diastolic ventricular interaction (DVI), influences forearm vascular resistance (FVR) during exercise in CHF patients.
- To test the hypothesis that vasoconstriction is exaggerated in symptomatic and hemodynamically severe CHF, especially with DVI.
Main Methods:
- Forearm vascular resistance (FVR) was measured during semierect cycle exercise in 22 CHF patients and 23 controls.
- Diastolic ventricular interaction (DVI) was assessed using radionuclide ventriculography during lower-body negative pressure to evaluate ventricular volumes.
Main Results:
- CHF patients with symptoms exhibited greater FVR increases during exercise than asymptomatic patients.
- Significant correlations were found between changes in FVR and resting pulmonary arterial pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance.
- CHF patients with DVI showed exaggerated FVR increases during both low-workload and peak exercise compared to those without DVI.
Conclusions:
- Vasoconstriction in nonexercising limbs is exaggerated in CHF patients with severe clinical and hemodynamic disease, particularly those with DVI.
- This exaggerated vasoconstriction may account for variability in sympathetic activation during exercise in CHF.
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