title: Autonomic dysfunction in systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: The objectives were to study the frequency and pattern of autonomic dysfunction in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Fifty-one patients of SLE and 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were studied prospectively using a standard battery of noninvasive tests. Autonomic symptoms were seen in 37% patients. On laboratory testing incipient dysfunction was seen in 9 (18%) cases and 1 (3%) control, while atypical involvement was seen in 11 (21%) cases and 6 (20%) controls. Autonomic dysfunction did not correlate with disease duration, lupus activity, disease damage, any particular organ involvement or the presence/absence of peripheral neuropathy. Autonomic neuropathy is not uncommon in lupus and may exist independent of peripheral neuropathy. There are no specific clinical predictors. The clinical significance of autonomic dysfunction detected by laboratory testing warrants longitudinal studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, 110029 New Delhi, India.
authors.lastname: Shalimar
authors.forename: Rohini
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Handa
authors.forename: Kishore Kumar
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Deepak
authors.forename: Manvir
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bhatia
authors.forename: Praveen
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aggarwal
authors.forename: Ravindra Mohan
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Pandey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies