Author/Editor		Kobal, J; Meglič, B; Mesec, A; Peterlin, B
Title		Early sympathetic hyperactivity in Huntington's disease
Type		članek
Source		Eur J Neurol
Vol. and No.		Letnik 11
Publication year		2004
Volume		str. 842-8
Language		eng
Abstract		To investigate whether Huntington's disease (HD) affects autonomic nervous system (ANS) functioning 33 subjects with positive genetic test results were studied. The subjects were classified according to Shoulson and Fahn (S&F) HD disability scale into three subgroups: subgroup 1 (eight asymptomatic gene carriers), subgroup 2 (13 mildly disabled HD patients) and subgroup 3 (eight moderately and four severely disabled HD patients). A battery of cardiovascular autonomic tests (Valsalva maneuver, deep breathing test, sustained handgrip test, orthostatic test) and the spectral analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) were performed. The results were compared with a group of matched controls. In subgroup 1, there was a higher power of low-frequency band (LFB) (P < 0.05). In subgroup 2 a higher power of LFB was detected, LFB/high-frequency band (HFB) coefficient was increased and the blood pressure response to sustained handgrip was elevated (P < 0.05). Subgroup 3 showed significantly lower blood pressure response to sustained handgrip, lower respiratory (P < 0.05) and orthostatic ratio (P < 0.01). Our results suggest that sympathetic hyperfunction is present in asymptomatic gene carriers and mildly disabled HD patients. Contrary to that, ANS hypofunction was found in advanced HD patients.
Descriptors		HUNTINGTON'S DISEASE VALSALVA'S MANEUVER BREATH TESTS HAND STRENGTH HEART RATE POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHY SUPINE POSITION HETEROZYGOTE