title: Autonomic evaluation by means of standard tests and power spectral analysis in multiple sclerosis.
abstract: Standard autonomic tests [heart rate response to deep breathing (HRDB), 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 HRDB 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Alfried Krupp Hospital, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Linden
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Diehl
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kretzschmar
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Berlit
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D017704:Baroreflex / Q000502:physiology; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D004576:Electromyography; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005583:Fourier Analysis; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008280:Magnetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012016:Reference Values; D012984:Software