Longitudinal Autonomic Characterization as a Predictor for Secondary Medical Complications Post-SCI

Mayo Clinic18 enrolled

Overview

The purpose of this research is to learn about how the body is able to balance changes in blood pressure, how that changes over time, and how these changes impact a participant's risk of developing medical problems.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

DIAGNOSTIC

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Spinal Cord Injuries

Interventions

Tests of sympathetic inhibitionDIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Bolus phenylephrine infusion using the Oxford technique will generate the need to inhibit sympathetic activity. Similarly, resting state Mayer waves will be assessed with regard to heart rate and blood pressure responses.

Tests of above level sympathetic activationDIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Cold pressor test of the hand will be used to cause sympathetic activation. Valsalva's maneuver will assess the ability to buffer against blood pressure fall (phase II).

Testing of below level sympathetic activationDIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Cold pressor test of the foot and bladder pressor response will be tested.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 18 YearsMax age: 75 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion criteria * 18-75 years old * Spinal cord injury with neurological level of injury from C6-T12 * ASIA Impairment Scale A-D. * Either acute SCI \<3 months prior (n=10) or chronic SCI (\>1 year since injury, n=8). Exclusion criteria * Symptoms of cardiovascular (including, but not limited to: hypertension, stroke, chest pain, etc.), respiratory, peripheral neurological or autonomic disease (particularly diabetes mellitus requiring treatment); * Women who are pregnant or lactating * Taking or being administered a medication known to potentially have adverse interactions with phenylephrine * In the judgement of the principal investigator, any illness or condition that will interfere with the patient's ability to comply with the protocol, compromise patient safety, or interfere with the interpretation of the study results.

Locations (1)

Mayo Clinic

Rochester, Minnesota, United States

RECRUITING

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Valsalva Maneuver Phase II

Presence or absence of phase II on Valsalva maneuver testing, which takes approximately 15 seconds to complete. This will be repeated x3.