Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2026

Surgical Placement of Catheters for Long-term Cardiovascular Exercise Testing in Swine
Published on: February 9, 2016
Exaggerated pressor response to treadmill exercise in chronic cocaine abusers with left ventricular hypertrophy
C G Cigarroa1, J D Boehrer, M E Brickner
1Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas 75216.
Background:
Chronic cocaine abuse has been associated with a high prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in normotensive individuals at rest. This study was conducted to determine whether chronic cocaine abusers with LVH would manifest an exaggerated pressor response to treadmill exercise.
Methods And Results:
Forty-nine normotensive chronic cocaine abusers underwent Bruce protocol treadmill exercise testing until they attained 85% maximum predicted heart rate. A peak exercise systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 210 mm Hg was defined as abnormal. In addition, they underwent two-dimensional echocardiography and had left ventricular mass determined by the area-length method. LVH was defined as left ventricular mass greater than or equal to 105 g/m2 and a posterior wall thickness greater than or equal to 1.2 cm. Age- and race-matched control subjects also underwent echocardiography and exercise testing. Group differences in peak exercise blood pressure in cocaine abusers with LVH, cocaine abusers without LVH, and control subjects were assessed by ANOVA: Groups were similar concerning age, race, heart rate, resting blood pressure, body surface area, and exercise duration. LVH was present in 16 of 49 (33%) cocaine abusers and three of 30 (10%) control subjects (p = 0.02). Of the 16 cocaine abusers with LVH, 10 (63%) had peak exercise blood pressures greater than or equal to 210 mm Hg, and three others had exercise blood pressures of 200 mm Hg. Therefore, peak exercise systolic blood pressure was significantly higher in cocaine abusers with LVH than in all other groups (p = 0.0001).
Conclusions:
Chronic cocaine abusers with LVH manifest an exaggerated pressor response to treadmill exercise. These data suggest that chronic cocaine abuse predisposes a subset of individuals to a heightened pressor response to a given sympathetic stimulus such as exercise and that this may contribute to the pathogenesis of LVH in chronic cocaine abusers.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Exercise and Cardiac Output
Sustained exercise increases the muscles' oxygen demand, which can be met...
Imbalances in Cardiac Output
CHF can occur due to the failure of either side of the heart. Left-side failure leads to pulmonary congestion—the right side continues to send blood...
Exercise and Cardiovascular Response
Light to moderate physical activity initiates a series of interconnected responses in the body. The heart rate modestly increases in anticipation of the workout, followed by widespread vasodilation as oxygen consumption by skeletal muscles increases. This results in decreased peripheral resistance, increased capillary blood flow, and accelerated...
Exercise Stress Test
Exercise stress testing, commonly known as a treadmill test, is a noninvasive procedure used to evaluate cardiovascular function and diagnose heart conditions.
Definition
An exercise stress test measures the heart's response to exertion using a treadmill or stationary bicycle. Chest electrodes record the heart's electrical activity through an ECG, and blood pressure is monitored regularly.
Purposes
Mitral Regurgitation I: Introduction
Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology

