Clinical science
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Comparative Study Clinical Trial Controlled Clinical Trial
Finger arterial versus intrabrachial pressure and continuous cardiac output during head-up tilt testing in healthy subjects.
1. The aims of this study were to determine the clinical feasibility of continuous, non-invasive Finapres recordings as a replacement for intrabrachial pressure during a 30 min head-up tilt, and the reliability of continuous cardiac output computation by pulse contour analysis from the finger arterial versus the brachial waveform. 2. In eight healthy subjects a 30 min 70 degrees passive head-up tilt was performed. ⋯ This difference did not change at low blood pressure levels (0.5 +/- 6%). 5. The qualitative performance of the Finapres allows it to be used in the clinical setting as a monitor of sudden changes in blood pressure induced by a 30 min head-up tilt. Relative changes in stroke volume, as obtained by pulse contour analysis of the finger arterial waveform, closely follow intrabrachial values during long-duration head-up tilt and associated arterial hypotension.
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1. The objective of this study was to investigate whether the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle differs from the follicular phase by the development of a state of general vascular relaxation. 2. Once in the follicular and once in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle, we measured by non-invasive techniques: arterial blood pressure (by finger blood pressure measurements), vascular tone (by pulse-wave velocity and plethysmography), blood flow to skin (by laser-Doppler), blood flow to forearm (by plethysmography) and blood flow to kidneys (by para-aminohippurate clearance), and the glomerular filtration rate (by inulin clearance). ⋯ The lower skin flow in the luteal phase may be an adaptation needed to ensure the higher core temperature of 0.3-0.5 degree C in the luteal phase. The higher glomerular filtration rate was in most case paralleled by a higher renal blood flow in the luteal phase. This suggests that the higher glomerular filtration rate is secondary to a selective vasorelaxation of the afferent renal arterioles.