To treat the hyperadrenergic form of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, the β1,2-adrenergic receptor blocker propranolol, the β1-blocker bisoprolol and the central agonist of inhibitory presynaptic α2-adrenergic receptors, methyldopa, are used in clinical practice. There is no data in the literature concerning the effects of these drugs on venae cavae flows during postural tests. In acute experiments on anesthetized rabbits, we studied changes of cranial and caudal venae cavae flows during orthostatic (head up tilt by 25°) and antiorthostatic (head down tilt by −25°) tests for 20 s after preliminary pretreatment with propranolol, bisoprolol and methyldopa. Before administration of these drugs, in response to orthostasis at 4 and 20 s, a decrease of the cranial and caudal venae cavae flows was noted. During antiorthostasis, caudal venae cavae flow increased for 4 s, and by 20 s it decreased to the initial value; cranial venae cavae flow decreased by 4 s, and by 20 s it was greater than the initial one. After propranolol pretreatment, caudal venae cavae flow decreased to a greater extent compared with intravenous administration of bisoprolol and methyldopa. After methyldopa administration during orthostasis, by 20 s, the cranial venae cavae flow decreased more pronouncedly than in the caudal venae, while after propranolol and bisoprolol pretreatment under conditions of orthostasis, both cranial and caudal venae cavae flows decreased approximately to the same extent. During antiorthostasis by 20 s after pretreatment with propranolol caudal venae cavae flow increased more than cranial venae cavae flow. In case of pretreatment with bisoprolol and methyldopa, in response to antiorthostasis, cranial venae cavae flow increased not only to a greater extent than caudal venae cavae flow, but also more pronouncedly compared with its increase in rabbits initially. Thus, we concluded, that in case of postural loads after pretreatment with indicated above drugs, there are differences in the mechanisms of blood flows redistribution in the basins of the cranial and caudal venae cavae.
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