Autonomic Nervous System Dysfunction in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Kim, Seong Dong; Ryu, Dong Hwan; Lee, Jeong Hoon; Kwon, Chang Mo; Hong, Young Hoon; Lee, Choong Ki

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To investigate the prevalence of autonomic dysfunction and to evaluate the relationship between autonomic dysfunction and clinical parameters in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
METHODS
Fifty-eight patients with SLE who met the American College of Rheumatology criteria for SLE and forty-five healthy controls were selected at our hospital. Cardiovascular autonomic nervous function (CAN) test, including heart rate variation in deep breathing, Valsalva maneuver and orthostatic change and blood pressure response to standing, handgrip, was done in patient group and controls. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), antinuclear antibody, anti-dsDNA antibody, complete blood count, complement and disease duration of patients were retrospectively reviewed and disease activity was assessed by Mexican SLE disease activity index (MEX-SLEDAI).
RESULTS
The frequency of parasympathetic damage was 51.7% in patients with SLE and 15.6% in controls. There was significant difference between 2 groups in heart rate variation in deep breathing. No significant correlations were observed between autonomic dysfunction and ESR, antinuclear antibody, anti-dsDNA antibody, thrombocytopenia, complement, disease duration of patients, but there was slightly positive correlation between number of abnormal parasympathetic function test and MEX-SLEDAI (r=0.32, p<0.05).
CONCLUSION
The prevalence of autonomic dysfunction was high in SLE patients and there was high frequency in patients with high disease activity. Prospective studies are needed to determine the clinical significance of autonomic dysfunction in the morbidity and mortality of SLE.