title: Alcohol-dependence syndrome: Postural challenge on heart rate variability.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cardiac autonomic involvement in Alcohol-Dependence Syndrome (ADS) patients has been demonstrated using conventional autonomic tests. Resting heart rate variability (HRV) without normalization has also been reported.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate cardiac autonomic changes with postural challenge using HRV in ADS and controls while controlling for confounding factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study involving 27 male subjects with ADS and age-matched healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical assessments included Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry and Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire. Spectral measures of HRV while lying and with active standing were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was an attenuated response in delta high-frequency (P=0.06) and delta low-frequency (P=0.04) power to standing in ADS subjects compared with controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with ADS appear to have attenuated cardiac vagal and sympathetic responses to standing. HRV with postural challenge may help earlier recognition of autonomic dysfunction in ADS.
authors.affiliation: Human Physiological Laboratory, St. John's Research Institute, St. John's National Academy of Health Sciences, Bangalore, Karnataka, India ; Department of Physiology, St. John's Medical College, Bangalore, Karnataka, India.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sucharita
authors.forename: Johnson
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pradeep
authors.forename: Anoop
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vincent
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vaz
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Srinivasan