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Quantitative assessment of cardiovascular autonomic function in Guillain‐Barré syndrome
Author(s) -
Flachenecker P.,
Wermuth P.,
Hartung H.P.,
Reiners K.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
annals of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 4.764
H-Index - 296
eISSN - 1531-8249
pISSN - 0364-5134
DOI - 10.1002/ana.410420207
Subject(s) - medicine , valsalva maneuver , autonomic function , diaphragmatic breathing , dysautonomia , heart rate , vasomotor , cardiology , autonomic nervous system , tachycardia , blood pressure , context (archaeology) , subclinical infection , anesthesia , heart rate variability , disease , pathology , biology , paleontology , alternative medicine
To study the temporal course and the relationship between autonomic failure and motor weakness in Guillain‐Barré syndrome (GBS), a total of 164 autonomic function tests were serially applied for up to 1 year in 13 consecutive patients. Results were compared with those obtained in 25 healthy volunteers and 13 patients with other neurological diseases. Parasympathetic function tests comprised heart rate responses to Valsalva maneuver, deep breathing, and active change of posture, whereas sympathetic vasomotor function was assessed by blood pressure responses to handgrip and standing. At the height of the disease, subclinical autonomic involvement of both parasympathetic and sympathetic arms was revealed in the vast majority of patients. Abnormalities of autonomic function tests improved gradually over time, paralleling the recovery of motor function, but were only partially related to clinically significant autonomic dysfunction. Correlation analysis suggested that tachycardia in the context of GBS might be caused by a reduction of sympathetically mediated peripheral vascular tone rather than by vagal failure.