Lowered sympathetic reactivity in patients with non-bleeding duodenal ulcers.
BACKGROUND
Autonomic dysfunction has been associated with duodenal ulcer. We assessed autonomic reactivity in patients with duodenal ulcer.


METHODS
Ten patients with non-bleeding active duodenal ulcers and ten age- and sex-matched healthy subjects were investigated for parasympathetic reactivity (heart rate response to deep breathing, Valsalva maneuver and head-up tilt test) and sympathetic reactivity (blood pressure response to hand grip, head-up tilt and cold pressor test). Anxiety status was measured by evaluating responses to a questionnaire.


RESULTS
The duodenal ulcer patients showed normal parasympathetic reactivity, lowered sympathetic reactivity and high anxiety score. When compared to control subjects, they had significantly lower diastolic blood pressure change in response to hand grip (median [range]; difference in values 12 [4-16] mmHg vs 16 [10-22] mmHg) and head up tilt (1 [-6-4] vs 6 [2-10] mmHg).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with duodenal ulcer have lowered sympathetic reactivity; this may be involved in causation by decreasing mucosal protection.
Department of Physiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.
M N
MN
Hoq
K K
KK
Deepak
M P
MP
Sharma
R L
RL
Bijlani
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001007:Anxiety; D001794:Blood Pressure; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004381:Duodenal Ulcer / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*