Find in Library

Introduction: Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) have autonomic dysfunction, which impacts heart rate and blood pressure regulation. Initial evidence also suggests an impaired ability to peripherally vasoconstrict during lower body negative pressure (LBNP). Given the relationship between vessel caliber and wave reflection, this may alter central hemodynamics and hemodynamic load. We aimed to investigate aortic hemodynamics and wave reflection during LBNP in individuals with DS and controls. Methods: Radial applanation tonometry was performed on 15 individuals with DS (male n = 12, age 24 ± 1 yrs, BMI 29.4 ± 2.0 kg/m2) and 21 control participants (male n = 12, age 24 ± 1 yrs, BMI 24.4 ± 1.0 kg/m2) before, during and after a 5-min LBNP stimulus of –20 mmHg. Waveforms were calibrated to mean and diastolic brachial pressures. Generalized transfer function was used to estimate aortic pressures (systolic aSBP, diastolic aDBP and mean pressure aMAP), augmentation index (Aix), augmentation index normalized for HR (Aix@HR75), augmentation pressure (AP), reflection index (Rix) and forward (Pf) and reflected wave magnitude (Pb). Results: Interaction effects were observed for AP, Aix, AIX@75, Rix and Pb (p < 0.05) in which DS had reductions in the outcome during LBNP whereas controls had little or no change. Although trending towards a larger drop in aSBP in individuals with DS, no significant interaction effects were found for aSBP, aDBP, aMAP, HR or Pf in response to LBNP. Conclusion: These results show individuals with DS exhibited greater reductions in aortic pressure waveform characteristics and wave reflections in response to LBNP, indicative of reduced sympathetic control resulting in less peripheral vasoconstriction.