Comparison of brachial artery vasoreactivity in elite power athletes and age-matched controls.

UNLABELLED: Elite endurance athletes typically have larger arteries contributing to greater skeletal muscle blood flow, oxygen and nutrient delivery and improved physical performance. Few studies have examined structural and functional properties of arteries in power athletes. PURPOSE: To compare the size and vasoreactivity of the brachial artery of elite power athletes to age-matched controls. It was hypothesized brachial artery diameters of athletes would be larger, have less vasodilation in response to cuff occlusion, but more constriction after a cold pressor test than age-matched controls. METHODS: Eight elite power athletes (age = 23 ± 2 years) and ten controls (age = 22 ± 1 yrs) were studied. High-resolution ultrasonography was used to assess brachial artery diameters at rest and following 5 minutes of forearm occlusion (Brachial Artery Flow Mediated Dilation = BAFMD) and a cold pressor test (CPT). Basic fitness measures included a handgrip test and 3-minute step test. RESULTS: Brachial arteries of athletes were larger (Athletes 5.39 ± 1.51 vs. CONTROLS: 3.73 ± 0.71 mm, p<0.05), had greater vasodilatory (BAFMD%: Athletes: 8.21 ± 1.78 vs. CONTROLS: 5.69 ± 1.56%) and constrictor (CPT %: Athletes: -2.95 ± 1.07 vs. CONTROLS: -1.20 ± 0.48%) responses, compared to controls. Vascular operating range (VOR = Peak dilation+Peak Constriction) was also greater in athletes (VOR: Athletes: 0.55 ± 0.15 vs. CONTROLS: 0.25 ± 0.18 mm, p<0.05). Athletes had superior handgrip strength (Athletes: 55.92 ± 17.06 vs. CONTROLS: 36.77 ± 17.06 kg, p<0.05) but similar heart rate responses at peak (Athletes: 123 ± 16 vs. CONTROLS: 130 ± 25 bpm, p>0.05) and 1 minute recovery (Athletes: 88 ± 21 vs. CONTROLS: 98 ± 26 bpm, p>0.05) following the step test. CONCLUSION: Elite power athletes have larger brachial arteries, and greater vasoreactivity (greater vasodilatory and constrictor responses) than age-matched controls, contributing to a significantly greater VOR. These data extend the existence of an 'athlete's artery' as previously shown for elite endurance athletes to elite power athletes, and presents a hypothetical explanation for the functional significance of the 'power athlete's artery'.

Influence of venous function on exercise tolerance in chronic heart failure.

PURPOSE: The clinical phase of chronic heart failure (HF) includes a marked decline in exercise tolerance, in part due to impaired skeletal muscle blood flow delivery. Interestingly, the role of the venous system on exercise tolerance in patients with HF has not received much attention, despite evidence of changes in venous structure and function. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between forearm arterial and venous function, and exercise tolerance in patients with HF and age-matched controls. METHODS: Vascular function and exercise tolerance was examined in 20 patients with HF (age 59 +/- 13 years) and 10 control subjects (age 51 +/- 16 years). Nondominant forearm arterial inflow, vascular resistance, venous capacitance, and venous outflow were evaluated at rest and after 5 minutes of upper arm occlusion, using strain gauge plethysmography. Exercise tolerance was measured as the maximum walking distance achieved on a 6-minute walking test. RESULTS: Maximum walking distance (HF: 178 +/- 65 m; controls: 562 +/- 136 m, P=.0001), and forearm vascular function after occlusion were significantly different between groups (forearm arterial inflow: HF 15.3 +/- 6; controls 22 +/- 6.7; forearm venous capacitance: HF 1.4 +/- 0.5; controls 2.0 +/- 0.4; forearm venous outflow: HF 24.5 +/- 9.4; controls: 33 +/- 10 mL x 100 mL tissue(-1) x min(-1); and forearm vascular resistance: HF 7.8 +/- 3; controls 4.6 +/- 1.4 U). Correlation analysis revealed significant associations between all forearm vascular measurements after occlusion and maximum walking distance. CONCLUSION: These data confirm previous studies indicating the importance of arterial reactivity on exercise tolerance in patients with HF. Additionally, the results suggest the importance of venous function as a contributing factor to exercise performance.