J Korean Acad Rehabil Med.  1998 Dec;22(6):1271-1278.

Sympathetic Skin Response and Heart Rate Variation in Spinal Cord Injured Patients

• Sohn MK
• Hong JH
• Kim BO
• Yune SH

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
Most spinal cord injured patients suffered form various autonomic dysfunction. The purpose of this study is evaluation of sympathetic skin response (SSR) and R-R interval variability (RRIV) as a method of autonomic function test in spinal cord injured patients. METHOD: Thirty-six spinal cord injured patients were enrolled in this study. SSR was recorded in the palm and sole by electrical stimulation of right median nerve and RRIV during rest, deep breathing and Valsalva maneuver for 1 minute.
RESULTS
The higher level of spinal cord injury, the higher rate of the abnormal sympathetic skin response in the palm and sole and more reduced values of Valsalva ratio (p<0.05). The parameters of sympathetic skin response and R-R interval variability were not correlated with injury severity of spinal cord and their autonomic symptoms.
CONCLUSION
Evaluation of SSR and RRIV could be helpful methods to evaluate autonomic function in the spinal cord injured patients.

Keyword

Sympathetic skin response; R-R interval; Spinal cord injury; Autonomic nervous system

MeSH Terms

Autonomic Nervous System
Electric Stimulation
Heart Rate*
Heart*
Humans
Median Nerve
Respiration
Skin*
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal Cord*
Valsalva Maneuver