No signs of autonomic nervous system dysfunction in primary Sjörgen's syndrome evaluated by 24 hour heart rate variability.
OBJECTIVE
Autonomic neuropathy is associated with increased mortality. In patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome (SS), disturbances in the autonomic nervous system have been described using conventional cardiovascular reflex tests. Heart rate variability (HRV) measured from Holter recording has proved to be a reliable and sensitive method in assessing autonomic function and prognosis. We evaluated cardiovascular autonomic function based on HRV in patients with primary SS compared to the general population.


METHODS
We analyzed HRV from 24 h electrocardiography recordings in 28 patients with primary SS and 28 healthy age and sex-matched population-based controls.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences in time or frequency domains or nonlinear measures of HRV between the groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of autonomic disturbances is not increased in patients with primary SS compared to the general population.
Niemelä
R K
RK
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Oulu, Finland. Raija.Niemela@oulu.fi
Pikkujämsä
S M
SM
Hakala
M
M
Huikuri
H V
HV
Airaksinen
K E
KE
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012016:Reference Values; D012859:Sjogren's Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*