The effect of hypertension on cerebrovascular carbon dioxide reactivity in atrial fibrillation patients.

ABSTRACT: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and hypertension (HTN) are both associated with impaired cerebrovascular carbon dioxide reactivity (CVR_CO2), an indicator of cerebral vasodilatory reserve. We hypothesised that CVR_CO2 would be lower in patients with both AF and HTN (AF + HTN) compared to normotensive AF patients, due to an additive effect of AF and HTN on CVR_CO2. Forty AF (68 ± 9 years) and fifty-seven AF + HTN (68 ± 8 years) patients underwent transcranial Doppler ultrasound measurement of middle cerebral artery blood velocity (MCA V_m) during stepped increases and decreases in end-tidal carbon dioxide (P_ETCO₂). A cerebrovascular conductance index (CVCi) was calculated as the ratio of MCA V_m and mean arterial pressure (MAP

SUBMITTER: Walsh HJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11150149 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature