Serial Measurement of Brachial-ankle Pulse Wave Velocity after Intramuscularly Administration of Scopolamine Butylbromide

Background Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is a useful and noninva-sive tool for evaluation of arterial stiffness. In PL Tokyo Health Care Center, we attempt to perform physical and brain check-up combined with PWV. Purpose Multiphasic health test, including physical and brain check-up, is usually finished within three hours. PWV must be measured in the same day before or after gastrography with scopolamine Butylbromide. We need to confirm whether this anticholinergic drug has effects on PWV. The purpose of this study is to evaluate serial changes of PWV after treatment with scopolamine butyl-bromide. Method We analyzed serial PWVs in nine volunteers (men) . The range of age was 28 to 59 years and the mean age (mean±SD) was 51.1±9.4 years. The first brachial-ankle PWV (baPWV) was measured at noon before injection of scopolamine butylbromide. Scopolamine Butylbromide (20 mg) was administered intramuscularly at 1 PM. baPWV was performed at 30, 60, 120 and 180 minutes after administration of scopolamine butylbromide. baPWV was applied by form PWV/ABI sphygmograph, Colin AT company, Japan. Results Heart rate was increased approximately 8.8% at 30 minutes after injection of scopolamine butylbromide. Afterwards, heart rate returned to the baseline levels. baPWV was increased slightly at 30 minutes after injection, but baPWV did not significantly change after 60 minutes of injection. Conclusion Intramuscular administration of scopolamine butyl-bromide transiently increased heart rate but did not significantly act on baPWV. Our results indicate that heart rate is most sensitive marker on sphygmography after injection of scopolamine butylbro-mide. baPWV can be measured at least 60-90 minutes after injection of scopolamine butylbromide. We should carefully interpret heart rate for evaluation of baPWV after gastrography with scopolamine butylbromide.