title: Heart rate variability analysis in patients with allergic rhinitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Very few studies investigate the role of the autonomic nervous system in allergic rhinitis. In this study, we evaluated the autonomic nervous system in allergic rhinitis patients using heart rate variability (HRV) analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eleven patients with allergic rhinitis and 13 healthy controls, aged between 19 and 40 years old, were enrolled in the study. Diagnosis of allergic rhinitis was based on clinical history, symptoms, and positive Phadiatop test. Electrocardiographic recordings on the sitting and supine positions were obtained for HRV analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the supine position, there were no significant statistical differences in very-low-frequency power (VLF, ≤0.04 Hz), low-frequency power (LF, 0.04-0.15 Hz), high-frequency power (HF, 0.15-0.40 Hz), and the ratio of LF to HF (LF/HF) between the patient and control groups. The mean RR intervals significantly increased, while LF% and LF/HF significantly decreased in the patient group in the sitting position. Moreover, mean RR intervals, LF, and LF/HF, which were significantly different between the two positions in the control group, did not show a significant change with the posture change in the patient group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These suggest that patients with allergic rhinitis may have poor sympathetic modulation in the sitting position. Autonomic dysfunction may therefore play a role in the pathophysiology of allergic rhinitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, and Institute of Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 112, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ming-Ying
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.forename: Guo-She
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: An-Suey
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Shiao
authors.forename: Jen-Hung
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Chih-Hung
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Shu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000503:physiopathology; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D056888:Patient Positioning / Q000379:methods; D065631:Rhinitis, Allergic; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016683:Supine Position; D055815:Young Adult