Dynamic Alterations in Cerebral Hemodynamics Measured by Portable Near-Infrared Spectroscopy in Orthostatic Hypotension and Intolerance

Abstract

Background: We aimed to evaluate dynamic alterations in cerebral total hemoglobin concentration (HbT) in individuals with orthostatic hypotension (OH) and orthostatic intolerance (OI) symptoms using a portable near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) system.

Methods: Participants comprised 238 individuals (mean age, 47.9 years) without a history of cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, or cerebrovascular diseases, including those with unexplained OI symptoms and healthy volunteers. Participants were categorized by the presence of OH based on the supine-to-stand blood pressure (BP) drop and OI symptoms using on OH questionnaires: classic OH (OH-BP), OH symptoms alone (OH-Sx), and control groups. Random case-control matching sets were constructed, resulting in 16 OH-BP and 69 OH-Sx-control sets. The time-derivative of HbT change in the prefrontal cortex during the squat-to-stand maneuver was measured using a portable NIRS system.

Results: There were no differences in demographics, baseline BP, and heart rate among matched sets. The peak time of maximum slope variation in HbT change, indicating the recovery rate and speed of cerebral blood volume (CBV) change, was significantly longer in OH-Sx and OH-BP groups than in the control group under transition to a standing position after squatting. In the OH-BP subgrouping, the peak time of maximum slope variation in HbT change was significantly longer only in OH-BP with OI symptoms, but did not differ between OH-BP without OI symptoms and controls.

Conclusions: Our results suggest that OH and OI symptoms are associated with dynamic alterations in cerebral HbT. Regardless of the severity of the postural BP drop, OI symptoms are associated with prolonged CBV recovery.

Keywords: blood pressure; cerebral hemodynamics; near-infrared spectroscopy; orthostatic hypotension; orthostatic intolerance; total hemoglobin concentration.