The association between enlarged perivascular spaces and muscle sympathetic nerve activity in normotensive and hypertensive humans.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Hypertension is characterised by both enlarged perivascular spaces (ePVS) and chronically elevated resting sympathetic outflow. ePVS is associated with heart rate variability, suggesting links to autonomic outflow; however, heart rate variability offers limited information on sympathetic nerve activity. Here, we assessed whether ePVS are associated with muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) in 25 hypertensive patients and 50 healthy normotensive adults.

Methods

T1-weighted MRI anatomical brain images were analysed for ePVS using a deep learning-based segmentation algorithm (nnU-Net). Spontaneous bursts of MSNA were recorded from the right common peroneal nerve via a tungsten microelectrode immediately before the MRI scan in a supine position. A backward regression

SUBMITTER: Rim D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12664836 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature