Alterations of structure and function of the microcirculation in hypertension in the elderly and changes with normotensive aging have not been fully clarified. We studied capillary pressure, density, and skin microvascular function in 46 subjects in 3 groups: elderly subjects (aged >60 years) with untreated hypertension (n=16), elderly normotensive subjects (n=16), and young normotensive subjec...

Recent studies in humans have suggested sex differences in venous compliance of the lower limb, with lower compliance in women. Capillary fluid filtration could, however, be a confounder in the evaluation of venous compliance. The venous capacitance and capillary filtration response in the calves of 12 women (23.2 +/- 0.5 years) and 16 men (22.9 +/- 0.5 years) were studied during 8 min lower bo...

The coronary capillary flow is analyzed theoretically based on continuum mechanics. The capillary is a long, elastic, and permeable vessel loaded externally by tissue pressure, and it is subject to possible periodic length changes, together with adjacent myocytes. Capillary flow is driven by arteriolar-venular pressure difference. Ultrafiltration due to transmural hydrostatic and osmotic gradie...

• The contribution of the pulmonary venous system to the pulmonary vascular resistance has been a subject of increasing interest." The pulmonary veins are sometimes considered to consist of wide inactive vessels; however, histological studies have revealed a layer of smooth muscle in these veins, especially at their junction with the left atrium. The veins may also respond histologieally by ven...

SEE PAGE 9 W hen pulmonary hypertension (PH), defined by mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) $25 mm Hg, is associated with an abnormally elevated pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (PCWP) >15 mm Hg or left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) >18 mm Hg (1), it has been variably termed World Health Organization Group 2 PH (1), pulmonary venous hypertension (2), “post-capillary PH” (3), o...

CHEST, 74: 6, DECEMBER, 1978 pulmonary capillary wedge pressure to normal by increasing extramural pressure. So for us, therapy with IPPV and PEEP usually influences the pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, especially when the central blood volume varies from normal; thus, the interest and limits of the “weaning test” are clearly defined. In some cases, therapy with artificial ventilation does n...

CHEST, 74: 6, DECEMBER, 1978 pulmonary capillary wedge pressure to normal by increasing extramural pressure. So for us, therapy with IPPV and PEEP usually influences the pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, especially when the central blood volume varies from normal; thus, the interest and limits of the “weaning test” are clearly defined. In some cases, therapy with artificial ventilation does n...