Hemispheric lateralization, endothelial function, and arterial compliance in chronic post-stroke individuals: a...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cardiovascular Science
• Cerebrovascular Health

Background:

• The brain-heart axis regulates cardiovascular function, with potential hemispheric asymmetry in neural control.
• Understanding stroke-related cardiovascular changes is crucial for patient outcomes.
• Existing research suggests potential differences in cardiovascular regulation based on stroke laterality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate differences in endothelial function between individuals with left- and right-sided strokes.
• To examine disparities in arterial compliance based on stroke laterality.
• To explore the implications of stroke-induced cardiovascular changes on brain-heart axis function.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional exploratory study involving 30 post-stroke participants (≥6 months).
• Endothelial function assessed via ultrasound-measured brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (baFMD).
• Arterial stiffness measured using carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) and central aortic pulse wave analysis (AIx, AIx@75, RM).

Main Results:

• Right-sided stroke participants exhibited significantly worse endothelial function (baFMD) compared to left-sided stroke participants.
• Higher arterial stiffness, indicated by augmentation index (AIx) and reflection magnitude (RM), was observed in right-sided stroke patients.
• These differences were statistically significant with medium effect sizes, highlighting stroke laterality's impact on cardiovascular metrics.

Conclusions:

• Right-sided strokes are associated with reduced endothelial function and arterial compliance.
• Individuals with right-sided strokes may be at increased risk for cardiovascular events.
• Findings underscore the importance of considering stroke laterality in cardiovascular risk assessment and management.