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Assessment of changes in cardiac autonomic tone resulting from inflammatory response to the influenza vaccination
Author(s) -
Perring S.,
Jones E.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
clinical physiology and functional imaging
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.608
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1475-097X
pISSN - 1475-0961
DOI - 10.1111/j.1475-097x.2012.01147.x
Subject(s) - medicine , vaccination , heart rate , heart rate variability , respiratory rate , baroreflex , metronome , cardiology , blood pressure , diaphragmatic breathing , breathing , anesthesia , immunology , rhythm , alternative medicine , pathology
Summary A total of 71 healthy volunteers opting to have a routine influenza vaccination were investigated for potential changes in cardiovascular autonomic tone resulting from the temporary inflammatory effects of an influenza vaccination. A number of temporal and frequency domain parameters of heart rate and breathing were assessed 2–5 days prior to vaccination and 1–4 days postvaccination. Three lead electrocardiograph ( ECG ), beat‐to‐beat finger blood pressure and chest plethysmography signals were measured. After an extended resting period, patients performed metronome‐guided breathing at six breaths per min for a period of 2 min. Standard E wing tests of autonomic function were also performed. All volunteers completed a vaccine symptom questionnaire. A subgroup of 15 volunteers who reported significant symptomatic reaction to the vaccination for at least 24 h following vaccination were identified based on the results of the questionnaire. A significant reduction in measures of heart rate variability ( HRV ) obtained during metronome‐guided breathing was noted following vaccination in the subgroup of 15 symptomatic volunteers. No significant changes were observed in standard E wing assessment, fractal dimension analysis, baroreflex sensitivity assessment or resting HRV . There was no evidence of significant reduction in autonomic tone following vaccination in the full sample of 71 volunteers. Results suggest a significant change in HRV response to a small inflammatory provocation and suggest further investigation of the inflammatory causes of dysautonomia is of value.