Abstract | OBJECTIVE: Study hemodynamic responses to cold application to the foot (CAF) to explore the autonomic cardiovascular control by the spinal cord. DESIGN: Controlled experimental study. Hemodynamic variables were measured or calculated for 13 healthy subjects, 10 patients with traumatic T4-T6 paraplegia, and 11 patients with traumatic C4-C7 tetraplegia. Subjects were continuously monitored for heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), and cerebral blood-flow velocity (CBFV) from 5 mins before to 5 mins after 40-120 secs of CAF by ice water foot immersion. The recorded signals were digitized online and analyzed offline in the time and frequency domains. RESULTS: During CAF, HR increased in the control group but decreased in patients (P < 0.001). BP increased significantly in the control and tetraplegia groups (P < 0.001) and nonsignificantly in the paraplegia group. HR and BP spectral components (LF, HF, LF/HF) did not change significantly. CBFV increased significantly in the patient groups (P < 0.05) but not in the control subjects. The cerebrovascular resistance increased significantly in the control and tetraplegia groups (P < 0.001), but not in the paraplegia group. CONCLUSIONS: The findings support the presence of hemodynamic autonomic control by the spinal cord and show that responses to CAF can be used to assess its integrity.
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Authors | A Catz, V Bluvshtein, A D Korczyn, I Pinhas, I Gelernter, T Nissel, Y Vered, N M Bornstein, S Akselrod |
Journal | American journal of physical medicine & rehabilitation
(Am J Phys Med Rehabil)
Vol. 86
Issue 11
Pg. 875-82
(Nov 2007)
ISSN: 0894-9115 [Print] United States |
PMID | 18049135
(Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Topics |
- Adult
- Autonomic Dysreflexia
(physiopathology)
- Cerebrovascular Circulation
(physiology)
- Cold Temperature
- Female
- Foot
- Hemodynamics
- Humans
- Paraplegia
(rehabilitation)
- Quadriplegia
(rehabilitation)
- Spinal Cord
(physiology)
- Spinal Cord Injuries
(physiopathology)
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