| Title | Decreased heart rate variability in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. | ||
| Author | Pisano, F; Miscio, G; Mazzuero, G; Lanfranchi, P; Colombo, R; Pinelli, P | ||
| Journal | Muscle Nerve | Publication Year/Month | 1995-Nov |
| PMID | 7565918 | PMCID | -N/A- |
| Affiliation | 1.Neurophysiological Unit, Salvatore Maugeri Foundation, Medical Centre of Rehabilitation, Veruno (NO), Italy. | ||
Autoregressive spectral analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) was performed in 29 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and 33 age-matched healthy subjects to evaluate the involvement of the autonomic nervous system. HRV analysis provides a means to recognize low (LF) and high (HF) frequency components, respectively mediated by sympathetic and parasympathetic heart control. An increase in the mean heart rate at rest (P < 0.001), a decrease in standard deviation of R-R interval as well as in PNN50 (P < 0.001), and an increase in the LF/HF component ratio (P < 0.01) were found in the ALS patients, indicating a vagal-sympathetic imbalance. These alterations were not related to the clinical features and to the duration of the disease. Our results suggest a subclinical involvement of the autonomic nervous system in ALS, particularly affecting parasympathetic cardiovascular control.