Clin Neurophysiol. 2004 Jun;115(6):1473-1478
Saari A, Tolonen U, Paakko E, Suominen K, Pyhtinen J, Sotaniemi K,
Myllyla V V.
Department of Neurology, Oulu University Hospital, P.O. Box 25, 90029
OYS, Oulu, Finland.
OBJECTIVE:
The aim of the present study was to investigate the cardiovascular autonomic control in clinically definite multiple sclerosis (MS) patients with a standardised battery of cardiovascular tests and to correlate these findings with the brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lesion load.
METHODS:
Fifty-one patients with MS and 50 healthy controls were studied.
Brain MRI was performed in all patients showing typical MS lesions.
The cardiovascular tests were carried out using a standardised battery.
RESULTS:
Heart rate (HR) responses to deep breathing [Formula: see text] and tilt table testing [Formula: see text] were significantly decreased in MS patients when compared to those of the controls.
Blood pressure (BP) responses in the tilt table test were also impaired in MS patients (diastolic [Formula: see text] systolic [Formula: see text] ).
Of the different brain areas investigated the total volume of the midbrain MRI lesions [Formula: see text] was the one most clearly associated with the impaired BP responses.
CONCLUSIONS:
MS results in both reduced HR variation and decreased BP reactions indicating disturbed cardiovascular regulation.
In particular, the midbrain lesions found in MS are associated with cardiovascular dysfunction.