[Diagnosis of cardiocirculatory autonomic failure by the tilting method]

The variation of SBP, DBP and HR is evaluated on tilting in a group of 34 patients affected by orthostatic hypotension versus a group of 54 healthy subjects, age and sex cross-matched. The patients affected by cardiovascular autonomic failure showed: 1) a fall of SBP greater than -19 mmHg in the 1st min; 2) a fall of the SBP average value (for 10 minutes) greater than -22 mmHg. Contrarily, the healthy subjects showed: 1) no variations of SBP values during the 1st minute and 2) a growing of SBP between the 2nd and the 10th minute; 3) a SBP average value (for 10 minutes) with a positive trend. The DBP and HR showed not differences between the groups. We suggest that the measure of SBP on standing may be considered an easy and fast method to perform a diagnosis of autonomic cardiovascular failure.