Autonomic function in systemic lupus erythematosus

A controlled study with paired analysis of data was performed in 34 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 34 age and sex-matched healthy controls. Autonomic function was not affected significantly in SLE patients as judged by standardised cardiovascular tests. Pancreatic polypeptide (PP) response to meal stimulation, which is impaired in parasympathetic failure, was for unknown reasons found to be significantly increased in SLE patients both in unstimulated and stimulated states. Neither cardiovascular nor serological tests could thus reveal significant autonomic dysfunction in SLE. Drugs with cardiovascular effects highly influenced autonomic function and could thus be misinterpreted as autonomic dysfunction caused by SLE itself.