Arterial Sodium Content in Experimental Congestive Heart Failure

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Abstract
This study sought to determine whether the electrolyte content of peripheral arteries is altered in experimental congestive heart failure (CHF) and whether such change, if present, would help to explain the abnormal vascular stiffness seen in human CHF. The concentrations of sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+) were determined in samples of aorta (Ao) and femoral arterial branches (FA) of 17 dogs. Six had ascites due to CHF produced by rapid ventricular pacing (left ventricular end-diastolic pressure [LVEDP] 26.2 mm Hg and maximal velocity of myocardial shortening [Vmax] 2.39 circumferences/sec). In the 11 animals in the control group pacing was stopped prior to the onset of CHF or the animals were not paced (LVEDP, 8.8 mm Hg and Vmax, 2.98 circumferences/sec). In CHF, mean Ao Na+ was 38.0 ± 2.3 mEq/100 g dry weight and FA Na+ was 44.2 ± 3.2 mEq/100 g. These were significantly higher than similar samples taken from the 11 normal dogs (Na+, 31.9 ± 1.6 [P < 0.05] and 31.9 ± 1.8 [P < 0.01] mEq/100 g, respectively). Although the water content tended to be higher and K+ tended to be lower in animals with CHF, these values were not significantly different from normal.