Effect of orthostasis on endothelial function: a gender comparative study

As the vascular endothelium has multiple functions, including regulation of vascular tone, it may play a role in the pathophysiology of orthostatic intolerance. We investigated the effect of orthostasis on endothelial function using EndoPAT®, a non-invasive and user-independent method, and across ge...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:PloS one 2013-08, Vol.8 (8), p.e71655-e71655
Main Authors: Goswami, Nandu, Gorur, Paavan, Pilsl, Ulrike, Anyaehie, Bond, Green, David A, Bondarenko, Alexander I, Roessler, Andreas, Hinghofer-Szalkay, Helmut G
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Blood pressure
Circulatory system
Comparative analysis
Comparative studies
Contraceptives, Oral
Dizziness - metabolism
Dizziness - pathology
Dizziness - physiopathology
Endothelium
Endothelium, Vascular - pathology
Estrogens - metabolism
Female
Females
Follicular Phase - metabolism
Gender
Gonadal Steroid Hormones - metabolism
Hormones
Humans
Intolerance
Luteal Phase - metabolism
Male
Males
Menstrual cycle
Menstruation
Nitric oxide
Oral contraceptives
Sex
Sex Characteristics
Sex hormones
Steroid hormones
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Summary:As the vascular endothelium has multiple functions, including regulation of vascular tone, it may play a role in the pathophysiology of orthostatic intolerance. We investigated the effect of orthostasis on endothelial function using EndoPAT®, a non-invasive and user-independent method, and across gender. As sex steroid hormones are known to affect endothelial function, this study examined the potential effect of these hormones on the endothelial response to orthostasis by including females at different phases of the menstrual cycle (follicular and luteal-where the hormone balance differs), and females taking an oral contraceptive. A total of 31 subjects took part in this study (11 males, 11 females having normal menstrual cycles and 9 females taking oral contraceptive). Each subject made two visits for testing; in the case of females having normal menstrual cycles the first session was conducted either 1-7 (follicular) or 14-21 days (luteal) after the start of menstruation, and the second session two weeks later, i.e., during the other phase, respectively. Endothelial function was assessed at baseline and following a 20-min orthostatic challenge (active standing). The EndoPAT® index increased from 1.71 ± 0.09 (mean ± SEM) at baseline to 2.07 ± 0.09 following orthostasis in females (p
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0071655