title: Heart rate variability in patients with allergic rhinitis.
abstract: Considering the role of autonomic imbalance in the pathogenesis of hypersensitivity reactions, we evaluated the autonomic system through time-domain analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) in patients with allergic rhinitis. Twenty-four patients with allergic rhinitis and 22 healthy subjects (mean age, 41 +/- 8 years and 37 +/- 9 years, respectively) were enrolled in the study. The diagnosis of allergic rhinitis was based on the history, symptoms, and skin prick tests results. Twenty-four-hour ambulatory electrocardiographic recordings were obtained, and the time-domain indices were analyzed. Analysis of HRV revealed that the SD of normal RR intervals, SD of successive differences in normal cycles, and HRV triangular index were not significantly different between the groups, but the root mean square successive difference, number of RR intervals exceeding 50 milliseconds, and percentage difference between adjacent normal RR intervals exceeding >50 milliseconds were significantly greater in the study group, compared with the control group. Our findings showed that HRV indices, which predict parasympathetic predominance, were increased in patients with allergic rhinitis. This finding shows that vagal activation is present not only in the nose but also in other systems, including the cardiovascular system.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Department, Gulhane Military Medical Academy School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yokusoglu
authors.forename: Sami
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ozturkt
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uzun
authors.forename: Oben
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Baysan
authors.forename: Sait
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Demirkol
authors.forename: Zafer
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Caliskaner
authors.forename: Rusen
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dundaroz
authors.forename: Cemal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sag
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karaayvaz
authors.forename: Ersoy
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Isik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D005260:Female; D006329:Heart Conduction System; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012306:Risk; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013997:Time Factors