An abnormal relationship between blood pressure and pulse rate in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
OBJECTIVE
To clarify the autonomic dysfunctions in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients, we investigated the relationship between blood pressure (BP) and pulse rate (PR), QTc interval, and coefficient of variation in the R-R interval (CVR-R) in ALS patients.


METHODS
BP and PR were determined automatically every 30 min for 24 h in 6 patients with ALS and in 18 healthy age-matched volunteers. The QTc interval and CVR-R were also evaluated using an electrocardiogram.


RESULTS
The relationship between BP and PR was lost in the ALS group. There was no significant difference in the QTc interval or CVR-R between the ALS and control groups.


CONCLUSIONS
We speculate that the imbalance between BP and PR observed in the ALS group reflects a disorder in the balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.
Murata
Y
Y
Third Department of Internal Medicine, Hiroshima University School of Medicine, Japan.
Harada
T
T
Ishizaki
F
F
Izumi
Y
Y
Nakamura
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011674:Pulse; D013997:Time Factors