Understanding Exercise Discomfort in Peripheral Artery Disease
Exercise Pressor Reflex in Peripheral Artery Disease: Roles of Flow Limitation and Reperfusion
This project looks at why exercise can be painful for people with peripheral artery disease and explores ways to make it easier.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hershey, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11127625 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
People with peripheral artery disease (PAD) often experience leg pain and discomfort during exercise, which limits their ability to walk. This discomfort is linked to an exaggerated body response that increases blood pressure during physical activity. Our researchers are exploring how reduced blood flow and periods of blood flow returning to the legs contribute to this exaggerated response. We are also testing if a medication called amiloride can help reduce this response and improve walking ability. This work involves both human volunteers and animal models to understand these processes better.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Individuals with peripheral artery disease who experience leg pain during exercise, as well as healthy volunteers, may be suitable for this research.
Not a fit: Patients whose exercise limitations are not primarily due to the exaggerated exercise pressor reflex may not directly benefit from this specific line of research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that reduce exercise-related pain and improve walking ability for individuals with peripheral artery disease.
How similar studies have performed: While the exaggerated exercise pressor reflex in PAD has been observed, the specific mechanisms and the potential for amiloride to block acid-sensing ion channels in this context are being thoroughly examined in this project.
Where this research is happening
Hershey, United States
- Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr — Hershey, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Li, Jianhua — Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: Li, Jianhua
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.