Attenuated inflammatory profile following single and repeated handgrip exercise and remote ischemic preconditioning in patients with cerebral small vessel disease

Similar to remote ischemic preconditioning bouts of exercise may possess immediate protective effects against ischemia-reperfusion injury. However, underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. This study compared the impact of single and repeated handgrip exercise versus remote ischemic preconditioning on inflammatory biomarkers in patients with cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD). In this crossover study, 14 patients with cSVD were included. All participants performed 4-days of handgrip exercise (4x5-minutes at 30% of maximal handgrip strength) and remote ischemic preconditioning (rIPC; 4x5-minutes cuff occlusion around the upper arm) twice daily. Patients were randomized to start with either handgrip exercise or rIPC and the two interventions were separated by >9 days. Venous blood was drawn before and after one intervention, and after 4-days of repeated exposure. We performed a targeted proteomics on inflammation markers in all blood samples.