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Decreased heart rate variability in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Author(s) -
Pisano Fabrizio,
Miscio Giacinta,
Mazzuero Giorgio,
Lanfranchi Paola,
Colombo Roberto,
Pinelli Paolo
Publication year - 1995
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/mus.880181103
Subject(s) - amyotrophic lateral sclerosis , heart rate variability , autonomic nervous system , medicine , cardiology , subclinical infection , heart rate , baroreflex , blood pressure , disease
Abstract Autoregressive spectral analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) was performed in 29 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and 33 age‐matched healthy subjects to evaluate the involvement of the autonomic nervous system. HRV analysis provides a means to recognize low (LF) and high (HF) frequency components, respectively mediated by sympathetic and parasympathetic heart control. An increase in the mean heart rate at rest ( P < 0.001), a decrease in standard deviation of R‐R interval as well as in PNN50 ( P < 0.001), and an increase in the LF/HF component ratio ( P < 0.01) were found in the ALS patients, indicating a vagal–sympathetic imbalance. These alterations were not related to the clinical features and to the duration of the disease. Our results suggest a subclinical involvement of the autonomic nervous system in ALS, particularly affecting parasympathetic cardiovascular control. © John Wiley & Sons, Inc.