Abnormal sympathovagal balance in men with fibromyalgia.
OBJECTIVE
It is possible that there are differences in clinical manifestations between men and women with fibromyalgia syndrome (FM), especially in autonomic dysfunction; we assessed the interaction between the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems in postural change in men with FM using power spectral analysis (PSA) of heart rate variability (HRV), and investigated the pathogenesis of the orthostatic intolerance.


METHODS
We studied 19 men with FM and 19 controls matched for age and sex. A high resolution electrocardiogram was obtained in supine and standing postures during complete rest. Spectral analysis of R-R intervals was done by the fast Fourier transform algorithm.


RESULTS
PSA of HRV revealed that men with FM at rest are characterized by sympathetic hyperactivity and concomitantly reduced parasympathetic activity. During postural changes, male patients demonstrated an abnormal sympathovagal response. These results provide the physiological basis for the orthostatic intolerance in men with FM.


CONCLUSIONS
This report of autonomic dysfunction in men with FM revealed an abnormal autonomic response to orthostatic stress. This abnormality may have implications regarding the symptoms of FM.
Cohen
H
H
Ministry of Health Mental Health Center, Anxiety and Stress Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel. hagitc@bgumail.bgu.ac.il
Neumann
L
L
Alhosshle
A
A
Kotler
M
M
Abu-Shakra
M
M
Buskila
D
D
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000503:physiopathology; D003863:Depression / Q000503:physiopathology; D005356:Fibromyalgia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005583:Fourier Analysis; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014630:Vagus Nerve / Q000503:physiopathology*