title: Electrophysiological assessment of the autonomic nervous system in male patients with acromegaly.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to electrophysiologically evaluate the autonomic function in acromegalic patients using sympathetic skin response (SSR) as a reflection of the sympathetic sudomotor activity and RR interval variation (RRIV) as an indicator of the cardiovagal autonomic function.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group consisted of 18 male acromegalics, and the control group was composed of 18 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects. Participants underwent SSR and RRIV tests. Beginning latencies and amplitudes of the median and tibial SSRs were compared among the groups. The RRIV values recorded at rest and during hyperventilation were compared among the patients and controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Latencies of SSRs recorded from the palms (median) and soles (tibial) of acromegalics were significantly longer than in healthy subjects (p = 0.004, p < 0.001). The amplitude of SSR recorded from the sole (tibial) was significantly decreased (p = 0.028). The RRIVs obtained from acromegalics at rest and during hyperventilation were significantly decreased compared with those of controls (p < 0.001). The RRIVs obtained from controls prolonged significantly during hyperventilation (p < 0.001); however, in the acromegaly group, hyperventilation did not cause a significant change in RRIV (p = 0.983).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study suggests that an autonomic dysfunction exists in patients with acromegaly. Dysautonomia in acromegalics may be documented by means of SSR and RRIV.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Gülhane Military Medical Academy, General Tevfik Sağlam Street 1, Etlik, Ankara, Turkey. oz_oguzhan@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Oğuzhan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Oz
authors.forename: Abdullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Taşlıpınar
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yücel
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akgün
authors.forename: Umit Hıdır
authors.initials: UH
authors.lastname: Ulaş
authors.forename: Erol
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bolu
authors.forename: Yaşar
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kütükçü
authors.forename: Zeki
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Odabaşı
mesh_terms: D000172:Acromegaly / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D004576:Electromyography; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005712:Galvanic Skin Response / Q000502:physiology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D015592:Immunoradiometric Assay; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I