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Updated: May 6, 2026

Non-invasive Assessment of Microvascular and Endothelial Function
Published on: January 29, 2013
The role of peripheral venous distension reflex in regulating hemodynamics: mini review
Takuto Hamaoka1, Lawrence I Sinoway1, Jian Cui1
1Penn State Heart and Vascular Institute, Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, United States of America.
Abstract:
Significant volume is pooled in veins in humans and the amount is dramatically altered by various physiological stresses and diseases. Several animal and human studies demonstrated that limb venous distension evoked significant increases in blood pressure and sympathetic nerve activity (venous distension reflex, VDR). VDR has attracted much attention because of its potential to explain the still unknown mechanism of autonomic dysfunction in several diseases, which would lead to a new treatment approach. This mini review discusses accumulated evidence of VDR at this point and what should be investigated in the future to apply the current understanding of VDR in clinical practice.
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