Reduced orthostatic tolerance following 4 h head-down tilt

The cardiovascular responses to a 10-min 1.22 rad (70 degrees) head-up tilt orthostatic tolerance test (OST) was observed in eight healthy men following each of a 5-min supine baseline (control), 4 h of 0.1 rad (6 degrees) head-down tilt (HDT), or 4 h 0.52 rad (30 degrees) head-up tilt (HUT). An important clinical observation was presyncopal symptoms in six of eight subjects following 4 h HDT, but in no subjects following 4 h HUT. Immediately prior to the OST, there were no differences in heart rate, stroke volume, cardiac output, mean arterial pressure and total peripheral resistance for HDT and HUT. However, stroke volume and cardiac output were greater for the control group. Mean arterial pressure for the control group was less than HDT but not HUT. Over the full 10-min period of OST, the mean arterial pressure was not different between groups. Heart rate increased to the same level for all three treatments. Stroke volume decreased across the full time period for control and HDT, but only at 3 and 9 min for HUT. There was a higher total peripheral resistance in the HDT group than control or HUT. The pre-ejection period to left ventricular ejection time ratio was less in HDT than for control or HUT groups. These data indicate a rapid adaptation of the cardiovascular system to 4 h HDT that appears to be inappropriate on reapplication of a head to foot gravity vector. We speculate that the cause of the impaired orthostatic tolerance is decreased tone in venous capacitance vessels so that venous return is inadequate.