Highlights
- •20 multiple sclerosis patients and 20 controls were compared by autonomic tests.
- •Heart rate variability analysis may be better to detect autonomic dysfunction.
- •Autonomic dysfunction was independent from disease duration, severity or lesion burden.
- •Insular lesions associated with a predominance of sympathetic tonus.
Abstract
Background
MS-associated autonomic dysfunction (AD) in multiple sclerosis (MS) is poorly understood
and the best method for its detection unestablished. We compared classical Ewing battery
and newer methods as heart rate variability (HRV) and spontaneous baroreflex sensibility
(BRS) to detect AD in MS and related them to central autonomic network (CAN) lesions.
Methods
We enrolled 20 relapsing-remitting MS patients, median age of 36 (interquartile range
32–46) years, disease duration of 5.5 (2.2–6.8) years, Expanded Disability Status
Scale (EDSS) score of 1.0 (1.0–1.5) and 20 age- and gender-matched healthy controls.
We assessed Ewing battery and spontaneous HRV and BRS. CAN involvement was evaluated
by magnetic resonance imaging.
Results
HRV showed both parasympathetic and sympathetic significant impairment in MS (p < 0.05). From Ewing battery only isometric test was significantly decreased in MS (p = 0.006). Disease duration and severity, lesion burden and CAN involvement were not
correlated with laboratorial parameters.
Conclusions
Our MS cohort had both sympathetic and parasympathetic dysfunction independently from
disease duration, neurological deficits and lesion burden or CAN involvement. HRV
analysis maybe more useful than classical Ewing battery to screen AD.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: May 25, 2016
Accepted:
May 24,
2016
Received in revised form:
May 19,
2016
Received:
April 17,
2016
Identification
Copyright
© 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
