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Finger peripheral resistance during local cold provocation in vasospastic disease
Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health
|August 1, 1986
Summary
Workers exposed to chain-saw vibration showed impaired finger circulation. Raynaud's disease involves sympathetic nervous system issues, while vibration-induced white finger (VWF) is linked to peripheral vessel control problems.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Vascular Physiology
- Peripheral Circulation
Background:
- Occupational exposure to chain-saw vibration can lead to vibration-induced white finger (VWF).
- Understanding the distinct physiological mechanisms underlying VWF and Raynaud's disease is crucial for effective management.
- Previous studies have indicated circulatory disturbances in VWF patients, but a direct comparison with Raynaud's disease under controlled conditions is needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare finger circulation parameters in workers with vibration-induced white finger (VWF), Raynaud's disease, and healthy controls.
- To investigate the effects of cold provocation on finger blood pressure, arterial inflow, venous pressure, and peripheral resistance.
- To elucidate the underlying pathophysiological differences between VWF and Raynaud's disease.
Main Methods:
- Evaluation of finger systolic blood pressure (FSBP), finger arterial inflow (FAI), finger venous opening pressure (FVOP), and finger peripheral resistance (FPR) in 56 chain-saw workers.
- Categorization of subjects into groups: vibration-induced white finger (VWF) (active, ceased), Raynaud's disease, and symptom-free referents.
- Utilized strain-gauge plethysmography under thermoneutral conditions with cold finger provocation.
Main Results:
- Cold provocation significantly reduced FSBP in Raynaud's disease and active VWF groups.
- Active VWF and Raynaud's disease groups exhibited significantly reduced FAI compared to controls.
- Finger cooling led to decreased FVOP and significantly increased FPR in active VWF and Raynaud's disease groups, with FPR elevated initially in Raynaud's disease and increasing with cooling in VWF.
Conclusions:
- Raynaud's disease appears to be associated with dysregulation in sympathetic nervous system outflow.
- Vibration-induced white finger (VWF) is suggested to involve peripheral mechanisms controlling vascular tone.
- Distinct pathophysiological mechanisms likely underlie Raynaud's disease and VWF, necessitating tailored therapeutic approaches.