[Characteristics of arterial blood pressure responses in the treadmill stress test in patients with post-traumatic stress disorder during the war in Sarajevo].

The health problems associated with PTSD include multiple physical symptoms and signs. It was observed that PTSD was often accompanied with cardiovascular problems. The aim of this study was to estimate the characteristics of arterial blood pressure response on stress exercise in PTSD patients who were forced to stay in a war zone of Sarajevo. This study was carried out in 1995, during the period of intensive war activities in Sarajevo. Exercise stress testing was performed on treadmill, under the Bruce protocol in age matched 9 male PTSD patients and 14 healthy young volunteers (age 18-23 years). Arterial blood pressure was obtained by the cuff method in rest, at the last minute of each exercise stage and four times in the recovery period (1, 3, 6 and 9 minutes). Our results did not confirm previous reports related to the resting values of arterial blood pressure in PTSD patients. In rest, there were no significant differences in systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressure between PTSD and control group. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) increased during exercise in both groups, especially at advanced exercise stages. Maximal mean SBP values were 222.00 +/- 24.80 mm Hg (control group), and 179.80 +/- mm Hg (PTSD). Exaggerated systolic blood pressure response (over 200 mm Hg) was observed only in the control group. This is probably due to physiological hyperreactive with enhanced sympathetic activity in response to stress caused by war. The luck of hyperreactive response in PTSD patients could be explained by diminished sympathetic influence on systolic blood pressure probably caused by psychoactive medication.