Fig. 2: Effects of left-shifting or right-shifting of autoregulation on tissue tolerance to hypoperfusion or hyperperfusion injury.

Lower and Upper thresholds of effective autoregulation for a left-shifted (solid lines) or a right-shifted (dashed lines) autoregulatory curve. A hypothetical normal autoregulatory curve and its upper and lower boundaries appear in blue. Range of Acceptable BP Control represents the theoretical range of systemic blood pressures considered safe or desirable within a population, as set by guideline. Note, leftward shifting protects the microcirculation at lower systemic blood pressures, but exposes tissues to hyperperfusion injury at systemic blood pressures within the upper ranges of acceptable BP control. Rightward shifting of autoregulation protects the microcirculation at higher systemic blood pressures, but exposes tissues to hypoperfusion injury at systemic blood pressures within the lower ranges of acceptable BP control. Abbreviations: BP systemic blood pressure, (L) Left-shifted autoregulation, (R) Right-shifted autoregulation. Technical Format: color.