Evaluation and application of the linear variable differential transformer technique for the assessment of human dorsal hand vein alpha‐receptor activity

Diurnal, day‐to‐day, intrasubject, and intersubject variability of responsiveness of dorsal hand veins to norepinephrine has been investigated in healthy young subjects through the use of a novel technique in which a linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) is placed directly over the vein. Under constant operating conditions, control vein diameter remained consistent. There is log dose responsiveness to norepinephrine infused directly into the hand vein. There was little diurnal, day‐to‐day, or intrasubject variability in the dose of norepinephrine required to induce 50% constriction of hand vein diameter. The responsiveness to norepinephrine of different veins in either hand was also consistent. However, there was wide intersubject variability, apparently unrelated to age, gender, or other subject characteristics. We conclude that the LVDT method is reproducible and reliable and offers a relatively noninvasive means of assessing the effects of disease and drugs on the human dorsal hand vein in vivo. The LVDT technique has been applied to study the rate of onset, magnitude of effect, dose responsiveness, and duration of action of intravenous dihydroergotamine, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.4 mg, on human dorsal hand veins. Despite systemic intravenous administration, there was an average delay in maximum response of 30 minutes to 1 hour. Venoconstriction was incomplete, with a maximum reduction of approximately 50% of vein diameter after each of the larger doses. There was no significant difference between the effects produced by 0.2 or 0.4 mg, which persisted for 6 hours after dosing.

[1]  B. Robinson,et al.  Effect of catecholamines and other vasoactive substances on superficial hand veins in man. , 1972, Clinical science.

[2]  J. Shepherd,et al.  Response of Dogs' Cutaneous Veins to Local and Central Temperature Changes , 1968, Circulation research.

[3]  E. Müller‐Schweinitzer Studies on the peripheral mode of action of dihydroergotamine in human and canine veins. , 1974, European journal of pharmacology.

[4]  I. M. COUPAR,et al.  The effect of isoprenaline on adrenoceptors in human saphenous vein , 1970, British journal of pharmacology.

[5]  E. Sharpey-Schafer,et al.  Humoral agents and venous tone. Effects of catecholamines, 5-hydroxytryptamine, histamine, and nitritex. , 1962, Lancet.

[6]  B. Robinson,et al.  Simplified method for measuring compliance of superficial veins. , 1971, Cardiovascular research.

[7]  W. H. Aellig A new technique for recording compliance of human hand veins. , 1981, British journal of clinical pharmacology.

[8]  J. Wood,et al.  A tandem foream plethysmograph for study of acute responses of the peripheral veins of man: the effect of environmental and local temperature change, and the effect of pooling blood in the extremities. , 1958, The Journal of clinical investigation.

[9]  F. Abboud,et al.  FOREARM VENOUS RESPONSES TO STIMULATION OF ADRENERGIC RECEPTORS. , 1965, The Journal of clinical investigation.

[10]  B. Robinson,et al.  Assessment of the effect of drugs on the venous system in man. , 1978, British journal of clinical pharmacology.