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Heart rate variability in carcinoid heart disease
1Philipps-University of Marburg, Department of Medicine, Germany.
The American Journal of Cardiology
|March 12, 1999
Summary
Carcinoid syndrome patients with carcinoid heart disease show reduced heart rate variability. This finding suggests heart rate variability (HRV) is a useful marker for detecting cardiac complications in carcinoid syndrome.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Oncology
Background:
- Carcinoid syndrome is a rare condition with potential cardiac complications.
- Carcinoid heart disease (CHD) affects a significant portion of patients with carcinoid syndrome.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate heart rate variability (HRV) in patients with carcinoid syndrome.
- To determine if HRV parameters differ between patients with and without carcinoid heart disease.
Main Methods:
- Time domain heart rate variability measurements were conducted.
- Echocardiographic studies were performed.
- 35 patients with carcinoid syndrome were included in the study.
Main Results:
- Carcinoid heart disease was identified in 18 out of 35 patients (51%).
- Key heart rate variability parameters, including standard deviation of normal RR intervals and the percentage of adjacent RR intervals differing by >50 ms, were significantly reduced in patients with CHD.
- These HRV reductions were observed when compared to patients without CHD.
Conclusions:
- Reduced heart rate variability is associated with carcinoid heart disease in patients with carcinoid syndrome.
- HRV analysis may serve as a non-invasive tool for assessing cardiac involvement in carcinoid syndrome.
- Further research is warranted to explore the clinical utility of HRV in managing carcinoid heart disease.