scholarly journals Contribution of Brain Processes to Tissue Loss After Spinal Cord Injury: Does a Pain-Induced Rise in Blood Pressure Fuel Hemorrhage?

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gizelle N. K. Fauss ◽  
Misty M. Strain ◽  
Yung-Jen Huang ◽  
Joshua A. Reynolds ◽  
Jacob A. Davis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Blood Flow ◽  
Tissue Loss ◽  
Acute Hemorrhage ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Nociceptive Input ◽  
The Brain ◽  
Tail Blood

Pain (nociceptive) input soon after spinal cord injury (SCI) expands the area of tissue loss (secondary injury) and impairs long-term recovery. Evidence suggests that nociceptive stimulation has this effect because it promotes acute hemorrhage. Disrupting communication with the brain blocks this effect. The current study examined whether rostral systems exacerbate tissue loss because pain input drives an increase in systolic blood pressure (BP) and flow that fuels blood infiltration. Rats received a moderate contusion injury to the lower thoracic (T12) spinal cord. Communication with rostral processes was disrupted by cutting the spinal cord 18 h later at T2. Noxious electrical stimulation (shock) applied to the tail (Experiment 1), or application of the irritant capsaicin to one hind paw (Experiment 2), increased hemorrhage at the site of injury. Shock, but not capsaicin, increased systolic BP and tail blood flow in sham-operated rats. Cutting communication with the brain blocked the shock-induced increase in systolic BP and tail blood flow. Experiment 3 examined the effect of artificially driving a rise in BP with norepinephrine (NE) in animals that received shock. Spinal transection attenuated hemorrhage in vehicle-treated rats. Treatment with NE drove a robust increase in BP and tail blood flow but did not increase the extent of hemorrhage. The results suggest pain input after SCI can engage rostral processes that fuel hemorrhage and drive sustained cardiovascular output. An increase in BP was not, however, necessary or sufficient to drive hemorrhage, implicating other brain-dependent processes.

scholarly journals Cerebral Autoregulation during Postural Change in Patients with Cervical Spinal Cord Injury—A Carotid Duplex Ultrasonography Study

Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1321
Author(s):  
Joo-Hyun Kee ◽  
Jun-Hyeong Han ◽  
Chang-Won Moon ◽  
Kang Hee Cho
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Blood Flow ◽  
Cerebral Autoregulation ◽  
Duplex Ultrasonography ◽  
Postural Change ◽  
Carotid Duplex ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Carotid Duplex Ultrasonography

Patients with a spinal cord injury (SCI) frequently experience sudden falls in blood pressure during postural change. Few studies have investigated whether the measurement of blood flow velocity within vessels can reflect brain perfusion during postural change. By performing carotid duplex ultrasonography (CDU), we investigated changes in cerebral blood flow (CBF) during postural changes in patients with a cervical SCI, determined the correlation of CBF change with presyncopal symptoms, and investigated factors affecting cerebral autoregulation. We reviewed the medical records of 100 patients with a cervical SCI who underwent CDU. The differences between the systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, and CBF volume in the supine posture and after 5 min at 50° tilt were evaluated. Presyncopal symptoms occurred when the blood flow volume of the internal carotid artery decreased by ≥21% after tilt. In the group that had orthostatic hypotension and severe CBF decrease during tilt, the body mass index and physical and functional scores were lower than in other groups, and the proportion of patients with a severe SCI was high. The higher the SCI severity and the lower the functional score, the higher the possibility of cerebral autoregulation failure. CBF should be assessed by conducting CDU in patients with a high-level SCI.

Increased vascular resistance in paralyzed legs after spinal cord injury is reversible by training

2002 ◽  
Vol 93 (6) ◽  
pp. 1966-1972 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria T. E. Hopman ◽  
Jan T. Groothuis ◽  
Marcel Flendrie ◽  
Karin H. L. Gerrits ◽  
Sibrand Houtman
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Blood Flow ◽  
Mean Arterial Pressure ◽  
Arterial Pressure ◽  
Vascular Resistance ◽  
Arterial Blood Flow ◽  
Arterial Blood ◽  
Cord Injury

The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of a spinal cord injury (SCI) on resting vascular resistance in paralyzed legs in humans. To accomplish this goal, we measured blood pressure and resting flow above and below the lesion (by using venous occlusion plethysmography) in 11 patients with SCI and in 10 healthy controls (C). Relative vascular resistance was calculated as mean arterial pressure in millimeters of mercury divided by the arterial blood flow in milliliters per minute per 100 milliliters of tissue. Arterial blood flow in the sympathetically deprived and paralyzed legs of SCI was significantly lower than leg blood flow in C. Because mean arterial pressure showed no differences between both groups, leg vascular resistance in SCI was significantly higher than in C. Within the SCI group, arterial blood flow was significantly higher and vascular resistance significantly lower in the arms than in the legs. To distinguish between the effect of loss of central neural control vs. deconditioning, a group of nine SCI patients was trained for 6 wk and showed a 30% increase in leg blood flow with unchanged blood pressure levels, indicating a marked reduction in vascular resistance. In conclusion, vascular resistance is increased in the paralyzed legs of individuals with SCI and is reversible by training.

scholarly journals Regional Neurovascular Coupling and Cognitive Performance in Those with Low Blood Pressure Secondary to High-Level Spinal Cord Injury: Improved by Alpha-1 Agonist Midodrine Hydrochloride

2014 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 794-801 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron A Phillips ◽  
Darren ER Warburton ◽  
Philip N Ainslie ◽  
Andrei V Krassioukov
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Blood Flow ◽  
Cognitive Function ◽  
Neurovascular Coupling ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Low Blood Pressure ◽  
High Level

Individuals with high-level spinal cord injury (SCI) experience low blood pressure (BP) and cognitive impairments. Such dysfunction may be mediated in part by impaired neurovascular coupling (NVC) (i.e., cerebral blood flow responses to neurologic demand). Ten individuals with SCI > T6 spinal segment, and 10 age- and sex-matched controls were assessed for beat-by-beat BP, as well as middle and posterior cerebral artery blood flow velocity (MCAv, PCAv) in response to a NVC test. Tests were repeated in SCI after 10 mg midodrine (alpha1-agonist). Verbal fluency was measured before and after midodrine in SCI, and in the control group as an index of cognitive function. At rest, mean BP was lower in SCI (70 ± 10 versus 92 ± 14 mm Hg; P<0.05); however, PCAv conductance was higher (0.56 ± 0.13 versus 0.39 ± 0.15 cm/second/mm Hg; P<0.05). Controls exhibited a 20% increase in PCAv during cognition; however, the response in SCI was completely absent ( P<0.01). When BP was increased with midodrine, NVC was improved 70% in SCI, which was reflected by a 13% improved cognitive function ( P<0.05). Improvements in BP were related to improved cognitive function in those with SCI ( r2 = 0.52; P<0.05). Impaired NVC, secondary to low BP, may partially mediate reduced cognitive function in individuals with high-level SCI.

scholarly journals Perturbed and spontaneous regional cerebral blood flow responses to changes in blood pressure after high-level spinal cord injury: the effect of midodrine

2014 ◽  
Vol 116 (6) ◽  
pp. 645-653 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aaron A. Phillips ◽  
Andrei V. Krassioukov ◽  
Philip N. Ainslie ◽  
Darren E. R. Warburton
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Blood Flow ◽  
Cerebral Blood Flow ◽  
Orthostatic Intolerance ◽  
Function Analysis ◽  
Orthostatic Tolerance ◽  
Transfer Function Analysis ◽  
Cord Injury

Individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) above the T6 spinal segment suffer from orthostatic intolerance. How cerebral blood flow (CBF) responds to orthostatic challenges in SCI is poorly understood. Furthermore, it is unclear how interventions meant to improve orthostatic tolerance in SCI influence CBF. This study aimed to examine 1) the acute regional CBF responses to rapid changes in blood pressure (BP) during orthostatic stress in individuals with SCI and able-bodied (AB) individuals; and 2) the effect of midodrine (alpha1-agonist) on orthostatic tolerance and CBF regulation in SCI. Ten individuals with SCI >T6, and 10 age- and sex-matched AB controls had beat-by-beat BP and middle and posterior cerebral artery blood velocity (MCAv, PCAv, respectively) recorded during a progressive tilt-test to quantify the acute CBF response and orthostatic tolerance. Dynamic MCAv and PCAv to BP relationships were evaluated continuously in the time domain and frequency domain (via transfer function analysis). The SCI group was tested again after administration of 10 mg midodrine to elevate BP. Coherence (i.e., linearity) was elevated in SCI between BP-MCAv and BP-PCAv by 35% and 22%, respectively, compared with AB, whereas SCI BP-PCAv gain (i.e., magnitudinal relationship) was reduced 30% compared with AB (all P < 0.05). The acute (i.e., 0–30 s after tilt) MCAv and PCAv responses were similar between groups. In individuals with SCI, midodrine led to improved PCAv responses 30–60 s following tilt (10 ± 3% vs. 4 ± 2% decline; P < 0.05), and a 59% improvement in orthostatic tolerance ( P < 0.01). The vertebrobasilar region may be particularly susceptible to hypoperfusion in SCI, leading to increased orthostatic intolerance.

scholarly journals Passive Leg Movements and Passive Cycling Do Not Alter Arterial Leg Blood Flow in Subjects With Spinal Cord Injury

2006 ◽  
Vol 86 (5) ◽  
pp. 636-645 ◽  
Author(s):  
Walter Ter Woerds ◽  
Patricia CE De Groot ◽  
Dirk HJM van Kuppevelt ◽  
Maria TE Hopman
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Cardiovascular Disease ◽  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Blood Flow ◽  
Vascular Resistance ◽  
Secondary Complications ◽  
Leg Blood Flow ◽  
Cord Injury ◽  
Leg Movements

Background and Purpose. Subjects with a spinal cord injury (SCI) are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease–related secondary complications, such as pressure ulcers and attenuated wound healing. It has been suggested that passive exercise enhances blood flow via mechanical pump effects or reflex activation. The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of passive leg movements and passive cycling on the arterial circulation in subjects with SCI. Subjects. Eight men with motor complete SCI and 8 male control subjects participated. Methods. Echo Doppler measurements were obtained to measure leg blood flow at rest, during and after 10 minutes of standardized passive leg movements, and during and after 20 minutes of passive leg cycling. Blood pressure was measured continuously, and total vascular resistance and leg vascular resistance were calculated. Results. In both groups, no changes in leg blood flow, vascular resistance, or blood pressure were observed during or after the 2 interventions. Discussion and Conclusion. The results of the study demonstrate that passive leg movements and passive cycling do not alter the arterial peripheral circulation in subjects with SCI or control subjects. Although the results do not support the use of passive movements or exercise for the prevention of cardiovascular disease–related secondary complications, physical therapists should not be dissuaded from using these techniques to address musculoskeletal concerns.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document