title: Autonomic dysfunction in presymptomatic spinocerebellar ataxia type-2.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore and quantify possible abnormalities in the autonomic cardiovascular regulation in presymptomatic stage of type 2 spinocerebellar ataxia (PS-SCA2).
  
  
  METHODS
  Heart rate variability (HRV) for 5-min series of RR intervals was analyzed in 48 PS-SCA2. Autonomic testing included resting recording, standing, Valsalva maneuver, and deep breathing. The results were compared with a group of sex- and age-matched controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Time-and-frequency domain HRV indices were significantly different between PS-SCA2 and control groups. Using two standard diagnostic procedures were identified 4 (8.33%) subjects with severe and 8 (16.66%) subjects with early cardiac autonomic neuropathy in PS-SCA2. CAG index significantly correlated with age (-0.35) and HR (0.31).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results confirm the presence of cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction in PS-SCA2 subjects.
authors.affiliation: General Hospital Dr Ernesto Guevara de la Serna, Las Tunas, Cuba. jmontesbrown@gmail.com
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Montes-Brown
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Machado
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Estévez
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carricarte
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Velázquez-Pérez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020754:Spinocerebellar Ataxias / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014636:Valsalva Maneuver