title: Subclinical autonomic dysfunction in patients with β-thalassemia.
abstract: We electrophysiologically evaluated the autonomic function (AF) in a consecutive series of patients with beta-thalassemia and in normal individuals. Six quantitative autonomic function tests (AFTs) were used: tilt test, hand grip test and sympathetic skin response for sympathetic function; R-R interval, inspiration-expiration difference and 30/15 ratio for parasympathetic function. The prevalence of impaired AF was higher in beta-thalassemia patients (13%, n = 5) than in control subjects (0%, n = 0; p = 0.026). Subclinical autonomic dysfunction appeared to be more prevalent in beta-thalassemia patients compared to controls in our series. Further independent validation of this finding is required in larger cohorts of beta-thalassemia patients.
authors.forename: Elefterios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stamboulis
authors.forename: Nikoleta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vlachou
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Voumvourakis
authors.forename: Athina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andrikopoulou
authors.forename: Chrisa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Arvaniti
authors.forename: Athanasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsivgoulis
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Athanasiadis
authors.forename: Sotirios
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tsiodras
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tentolouris
authors.forename: Heleni
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Triantafyllidi
authors.forename: Marouso
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Drossou-Servou
authors.forename: Aphrodite
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Loutradi-Anagnostou
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tsivgoulis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity / Q000639:trends; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009460:Neurologic Examination / Q000379:methods; D015995:Prevalence; D018667:Tilt-Table Test / Q000379:methods; D055815:Young Adult; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*