title: Disturbances of autonomic nervous function in primary Sjögren's syndrome.
abstract: Autonomic nervous function was evaluated by deep breathing [expiration/inspiration (E/I) ratio] and tilt table tests [acceleration (AI) and brake indices (BI)] in 19 patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) and in 56 age matched controls. The E/I-ratio and systolic blood pressure (at rest, 1, and 8 min after tilt) were found to be significantly reduced (p < 0.001, p < 0.05, p < 0.01, p < 0.01 respectively) in patients with pSS whereas neither AI, BI nor diastolic blood pressure did differ significantly between patients and controls (NS). The van Bijsterveld's score correlated negatively with the AI (r = -0.77, p< 0.001) as well as the BI (r = -0.60, p < 0.01). No correlations were found between the 3 autonomic nerve function parameters (E/I-ratio, AI, BI) and unstimulated whole sialometry or salivary gland scintigraphy. We conclude that autonomic disturbances, mainly affecting the parasympathetic nerves are associated with pSS.
authors.affiliation: Sjögren's Syndrome Research Centre, Malmö University Hospital, Sweden.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mandl
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jacobsson
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lilja
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sundkvist
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Manthorpe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012119:Respiration / Q000502:physiology; D012469:Salivary Glands / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013666:Tears / Q000502:physiology; D018667:Tilt-Table Test