title: Autonomic nerve dysfunction in pathologically obese patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obese patients frequently present clinical symptoms related to gastrointestinal motility alterations and autonomic nervous system dysfunction.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the possible correlation between cardiovascular autonomic nervous dysfunction and oesophageal motility in pathologically obese patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Enrolled in the study were 22 patients with a body mass index of 45.72 +/- 7.48 and 10 control subjects, all within 20% of their ideal weight. Oesophageal motility was measured by stationary manometry and scintigraphic transit. Tests for the evaluation of autonomic nervous system were: Valsalva ratio, deep breathing, sustained handgrip, sudormotor axon reflex test and spectral analysis of the variability of R-R interval.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean pressure of oesophageal peristaltic waves in patients and controls was 39.36 +/- 14 mmHg and 73 +/- 12 mmHg, respectively The scintigraphic mean transit time was 22.96 +/- 16.26 seconds in patients and 10.23 +/- 16.26 seconds in controls (p < 0.001). Spectral analysis of the variability of the R-R interval showed an increase in the parasympathetic component both in the lying and standing position compared to controls. The other autonomic nervous system function tests showed no significant difference between obese patients and controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that obese patients present a reduction of oesophageal transit and autonomic nervous system dysfunction albeit no direct correlation was found between these phenomena.
authors.affiliation: Gastroenterology Unit, Department of Clinical Physiopathology, University of Florence, Azienda Ospedaliera Careggi, Florence, Italy. E.Surrenti@dfc.unifi.it
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Surrenti
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ciancio
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carloppi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lucchese
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coppola
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Caramelli
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Surrenti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D003935:Diagnostic Techniques, Cardiovascular; D003938:Diagnostic Techniques, Digestive System; D015154:Esophageal Motility Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000150:complications*