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A Novel Pharmacological Approach to Determining Parasympathetic Heart Rate Reserve in Human Subjects
Author(s) -
Tank J,
Heusser K,
Diedrich A,
Luft F C,
Jordan J
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
clinical pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.941
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1532-6535
pISSN - 0009-9236
DOI - 10.1038/clpt.2010.177
Subject(s) - heart rate , cardiology , medicine , blood pressure
Severe cardiac parasympathetic dysfunction can be diagnosed using bedside tests, such as a Valsalva maneuver. However, the tests that are in use are of limited value in detecting and quantifying an early impairment in cardiac parasympathetic function. We showed that α‐2‐adrenoreceptor stimulation with clonidine combined with pharmacological baroreceptor loading unmasks impaired parasympathetic heart rate reserve before overt changes in heart rate regulation occur. The methodology could be utilized to monitor the progression of autonomic nervous system disease in studies carried out to test neuroprotective strategies. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (2010) 88 5, 630–633. doi: 10.1038/clpt.2010.177