Dynamic cerebral autoregulation is impaired in Veterans with Gulf War Illness: A case-control study.

Neurological dysfunction has been reported in Gulf War Illness (GWI), including abnormal cerebral blood flow (CBF) responses to physostigmine challenge. However, it is unclear whether the CBF response to normal physiological challenges and regulation is similarly dysfunctional. The goal of the prese...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Michael J Falvo, Jacob B Lindheimer, Jorge M Serrador
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2018-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC6188758?pdf=render
_version_ 1819227949602177024
author Michael J Falvo
Jacob B Lindheimer
Jorge M Serrador
author_facet Michael J Falvo
Jacob B Lindheimer
Jorge M Serrador
author_sort Michael J Falvo
collection DOAJ
description Neurological dysfunction has been reported in Gulf War Illness (GWI), including abnormal cerebral blood flow (CBF) responses to physostigmine challenge. However, it is unclear whether the CBF response to normal physiological challenges and regulation is similarly dysfunctional. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the CBF velocity response to orthostatic stress (i.e., sit-to-stand maneuver) and increased fractional concentration of carbon dioxide. 23 cases of GWI (GWI+) and 9 controls (GWI) volunteered for this study. Primary variables of interest included an index of dynamic autoregulation and cerebrovascular reactivity. Dynamic autoregulation was significantly lower in GWI+ than GWI- both for autoregulatory index (2.99±1.5 vs 4.50±1.5, p = 0.017). In addition, we observed greater decreases in CBF velocity both at the nadir after standing (-18.5±6.0 vs -9.8±4.9%, p = 0.001) and during steady state standing (-5.7±7.1 vs -1.8±3.2%, p = 0.042). In contrast, cerebrovascular reactivity was not different between groups. In our sample of Veterans with GWI, dynamic autoregulation was impaired and consistent with greater cerebral hypoperfusion when standing. This reduced CBF may contribute to cognitive difficulties in these Veterans when upright.
first_indexed 2024-12-23T10:49:31Z
format Article
id doaj.art-a8bb4488d4004632a305f4cd97eddb23
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1932-6203
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-23T10:49:31Z
publishDate 2018-01-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLoS ONE
spelling doaj.art-a8bb4488d4004632a305f4cd97eddb232022-12-21T17:49:56ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032018-01-011310e020539310.1371/journal.pone.0205393Dynamic cerebral autoregulation is impaired in Veterans with Gulf War Illness: A case-control study.Michael J FalvoJacob B LindheimerJorge M SerradorNeurological dysfunction has been reported in Gulf War Illness (GWI), including abnormal cerebral blood flow (CBF) responses to physostigmine challenge. However, it is unclear whether the CBF response to normal physiological challenges and regulation is similarly dysfunctional. The goal of the present study was to evaluate the CBF velocity response to orthostatic stress (i.e., sit-to-stand maneuver) and increased fractional concentration of carbon dioxide. 23 cases of GWI (GWI+) and 9 controls (GWI) volunteered for this study. Primary variables of interest included an index of dynamic autoregulation and cerebrovascular reactivity. Dynamic autoregulation was significantly lower in GWI+ than GWI- both for autoregulatory index (2.99±1.5 vs 4.50±1.5, p = 0.017). In addition, we observed greater decreases in CBF velocity both at the nadir after standing (-18.5±6.0 vs -9.8±4.9%, p = 0.001) and during steady state standing (-5.7±7.1 vs -1.8±3.2%, p = 0.042). In contrast, cerebrovascular reactivity was not different between groups. In our sample of Veterans with GWI, dynamic autoregulation was impaired and consistent with greater cerebral hypoperfusion when standing. This reduced CBF may contribute to cognitive difficulties in these Veterans when upright.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC6188758?pdf=render
spellingShingle Michael J Falvo
Jacob B Lindheimer
Jorge M Serrador
Dynamic cerebral autoregulation is impaired in Veterans with Gulf War Illness: A case-control study.
PLoS ONE
title Dynamic cerebral autoregulation is impaired in Veterans with Gulf War Illness: A case-control study.
title_full Dynamic cerebral autoregulation is impaired in Veterans with Gulf War Illness: A case-control study.
title_fullStr Dynamic cerebral autoregulation is impaired in Veterans with Gulf War Illness: A case-control study.
title_full_unstemmed Dynamic cerebral autoregulation is impaired in Veterans with Gulf War Illness: A case-control study.
title_short Dynamic cerebral autoregulation is impaired in Veterans with Gulf War Illness: A case-control study.
title_sort dynamic cerebral autoregulation is impaired in veterans with gulf war illness a case control study
url http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC6188758?pdf=render
work_keys_str_mv AT michaeljfalvo dynamiccerebralautoregulationisimpairedinveteranswithgulfwarillnessacasecontrolstudy
AT jacobblindheimer dynamiccerebralautoregulationisimpairedinveteranswithgulfwarillnessacasecontrolstudy
AT jorgemserrador dynamiccerebralautoregulationisimpairedinveteranswithgulfwarillnessacasecontrolstudy