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[Evaluation of sweating function, changes in heart function and postural blood pressure in patients with multiple
M Bilińska1, A Pokryszko, E Gruszka
1Katedra i Klinika Neurologii AM we Wrocławiu.
Summary
Multiple sclerosis patients often have subclinical sudomotor dysfunction, detected by sympathetic skin response testing. This autonomic disturbance did not correlate with disease duration or severity (EDSS score).
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Autonomic Neuroscience
Background:
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease affecting the central nervous system.
- Autonomic dysfunction is increasingly recognized as a significant component of MS, impacting various bodily functions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To electrophysiologically assess sudomotor and cardiovascular functions in patients with multiple sclerosis.
- To investigate the relationship between these autonomic functions, disease duration, and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores.
Main Methods:
- Electrophysiologic assessment including heart rate variability (HRV) and blood pressure response to postural change.
- Skin sympathetic response (SSR) examination to evaluate sudomotor function.
- Comparison between 24 relapsing-remitting MS patients and 22 healthy controls.
Main Results:
- No significant abnormalities were found in HRV or blood pressure response to standing in the MS group.
- The majority of MS patients exhibited subclinical sudomotor dysfunction, indicated by abnormal SSR.
- Abnormal SSR did not correlate with disease duration or EDSS score.
Conclusions:
- Sympathetic skin response testing is a sensitive method for detecting autonomic disturbances in multiple sclerosis.
- Sudomotor dysfunction is common in MS, even in the early stages, and may be independent of disease duration and disability.
- Electrophysiologic assessment of autonomic function is valuable in understanding the pathophysiology of MS.