Transcutaneous Carbon Dioxide Treatment Is Capable of Reducing Peripheral Vascular Resistance in Hypertensive Patients

Abstract

Aim: We aimed to investigate the effects of a single carbon dioxide (CO₂) treatment on arterial stiffness by monitoring the changes of aortic pulse-wave velocity (PWV) and aortic augmentation index (AIXao), which are indicators of arterial stiffness.

Patients and methods: PWV and AIXao were measured by an invasively validated oscillometric device. The measurements of stiffness parameters were performed before the CO₂ treatment, and at 1, 4 and 8 h after the first treatment.

Results: Thirty-one patients were included. No significant changes were found in PWV. AIXao decreased significantly 1 h and 4 h after CO₂ treatment compared to baseline values (p=0.034 and p<0.001). AIXao increased 8 h after the CO₂ treatment, but remained significantly lower than baseline AIXao values (p=0.016).

Conclusion: CO₂ treatment is capable of reducing peripheral vascular resistance. We hypothesize that CO₂ is not only a temporal vasodilator but is also capable of activating vasodilation pathways.

Keywords: Carbon dioxide therapy; aortic augmentation index; aortic pulse-wave velocity; aortic stiffness.