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Published on: December 15, 2023
No influence of lower leg heating on central arterial pulse pressure in young men
Keisei Kosaki1, Jun Sugawara, Nobuhiko Akazawa
1Graduate School of Comprehensive Human Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
Insights
Heat treatment of the lower leg reduced leg vascular tone but did not significantly alter central arterial pulse pressure or wave reflection in young men. This suggests leg vascular tone changes may not impact central hemodynamics.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Hemodynamics
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- Central arterial pulse pressure (PP) is a key cardiovascular disease predictor.
- PP comprises incident and reflected arterial waves.
- Lower body vascular tone influences reflected waves.
Purpose of the Study:
- To test if reducing leg vascular tone via heat treatment attenuates central arterial PP.
- To investigate the impact of localized leg heating on arterial wave reflection.
Main Methods:
- Eight young men underwent lower leg heat treatment (approx. 43 °C) for 30 and 60 minutes.
- Peripheral (femoral-ankle) and central (carotid-femoral) pulse wave velocity (PWV) were measured.
- Arterial pressure and wave reflection parameters were assessed before and after intervention.
Main Results:
- Leg (femoral-ankle) PWV significantly decreased post-heat treatment.
- Aortic (carotid-femoral) PWV showed no significant change.
- Carotid arterial PP and wave reflection parameters remained unchanged.
Conclusions:
- Heat-induced reduction in leg vascular tone did not significantly affect central arterial PP or wave reflection in young men.
- Localized changes in leg vascular tone may have limited influence on central hemodynamics.
- Further research is needed to understand the interplay between peripheral tone and central pressure regulation.
Abstract:
Central arterial pulse pressure (PP), a strong predictor of cardiovascular disease, mainly consists of an incident wave generated by left ventricular ejection and a late-arriving reflected wave emanating from the lower body. We have tested the hypothesis that a reduction in leg vascular tone by heat treatment of the lower leg attenuates the central arterial PP. Pressure and wave properties of the peripheral and central arteries were measured in eight young men before and after heat treatment of the lower leg (temperature approx. 43 °C) for 30 and 60 min, respectively. Following the lower leg heat trial, leg (femoral-ankle) pulse wave velocity (PWV) was significantly decreased, but aortic (carotid-femoral) PWV and parameters of wave reflection and carotid arterial PP did not change significantly. No significant changes were observed in these parameters in the control trial. These results suggest that the reduction in leg vascular tone induced by heat treatment of the lower leg may not affect wave reflection and central arterial PP in young men.
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