Heart rate variability and cardiac autonomic function in systemic lupus erythematosus

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Autonomic Function Following Concussion in Youth Athletes: An Exploration of Heart Rate Variability Using 24-hour Recording Methodology

Published on: September 21, 2018

B Laganá1, L Tubani, N Maffeo

  • 1Department of Medicina Clinica, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.

Lupus
|February 1, 1996
PubMed

Insights

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) patients exhibit significantly impaired cardiac autonomic function, as measured by Heart Rate Variability (HRV). This suggests HRV is a valuable tool for detecting dysautonomia in SLE, even without overt symptoms.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Rheumatology
  • Autonomic Neuroscience

Background:

  • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that can affect multiple organ systems.
  • Cardiac autonomic dysfunction, or dysautonomia, is a potential complication of SLE.
  • Evaluating subclinical autonomic dysfunction is crucial for comprehensive patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess cardiac autonomic function in SLE patients without clinical signs of dysautonomia.
  • To compare Heart Rate Variability (HRV) parameters between SLE patients and healthy controls.
  • To determine the incidence of autonomic dysfunction in an SLE cohort using HRV analysis.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiography to record Heart Rate Variability (HRV).
  • Analyzed time-domain (SDNN, pNN50) and frequency-domain (LF, HF) HRV parameters.
  • Included 23 SLE patients (on corticosteroids, some with Ciclosporin A) and 14 healthy controls.

Main Results:

  • SLE patients showed significantly lower HRV parameters compared to controls: SDNN (69.40 vs 127.72), pNN50 (16.44 vs 25.95), LF (8.34 vs 34.97), and HF (3.21 vs 12.18).
  • High incidence of autonomic dysfunction detected in SLE patients: 78% for SDNN, 17% for pNN50, 91% for LF, and 56% for HF.
  • These findings indicate widespread autonomic impairment in the studied SLE population.

Conclusions:

  • Heart Rate Variability (HRV) analysis is a sensitive method for detecting cardiac autonomic dysfunction in SLE patients.
  • Subclinical dysautonomia is prevalent in SLE, even in the absence of overt clinical symptoms.
  • HRV monitoring may aid in early identification and management of autonomic complications in SLE.

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