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Autonomic evaluation by means of standard tests and power spectral analysis in multiple sclerosis
Author(s) -
Linden Dieter,
Diehl Rolf R.,
Kretzschmar Anke,
Berlit Peter
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-4598(199707)20:7<809::aid-mus4>3.0.co;2-b
Subject(s) - baroreflex , heart rate , medicine , cardiorespiratory fitness , cardiology , diaphragmatic breathing , blood pressure , vasomotor , heart rate variability , autonomic nervous system , pulmonary function testing , ventilation (architecture) , spectral analysis , anesthesia , pathology , physics , quantum mechanics , spectroscopy , mechanical engineering , alternative medicine , engineering
Standard autonomic tests [heart rate response to deep breathing (HR DB ), change in systolic blood pressure due to tilt], and spectral analysis of heart rate (HR), arterial blood pressure (ABP), and the associated transfer function analysis (gains and phases) were performed in 20 patients with multiple sclerosis to determine their diagnostic value. Transfer function analysis suggested impairment of baroreflex function in 7 patients and an alteration of cardiorespiratory coupling on a brain stem level in 4 patients. In addition, sympathetic vasomotor outflow was reduced in 2 patients (spectral ABP measures in the mid frequency band) and a decrease of vagal outflow was suggested by abnormal respiratory HR parameters in another 2 patients. An abnormal HR DB was present in 5 patients and was probably due to a central alteration (cardiorespiratory coupling) in 2 patients and due to diminished respiratory effort in 1 patient. Spectral analysis of both HR and ABP oscillations and their transfer function may considerably improve the pathophysiological interpretation of cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction in patients with central nervous system disease. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Muscle Nerve 20: 809–814, 1997