OBJECTIVE: To detect cardiac autonomic dysfunction, using analysis of heart rate variability in genetically defined spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Consecutive RR intervals were analyzed for time- and frequency-domain parameters in 22 genotypically proven SCA patients (SCA1 = 11, SCA2 = 6 and SCA3 = 5) and compared with that of age- and gender-matched controls. RESULTS: Reduction in the standard deviation of RR interval (RR_SD) was seen in 72.7% of SCA patients. There was a reduction in both the parasympathetic and sympathetic parameters in SCA without any change in the ratio of low- to high-frequency power. In SCA1, there was a significant negative correlation between RR_SD and duration of illness but not with the CAG repeat lengths of the abnormal allele. Small sample size of SCA2 and SCA3 precluded similar comparison. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiac autonomic dysfunction, predominantly parasympathetic, was seen in SCA, and the severity correlated with the duration of illness in SCA1.
OBJECTIVE: To detect cardiac autonomic dysfunction, using analysis of heart rate variability in genetically defined spinocerebellar ataxias (SCA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Consecutive RR intervals were analyzed for time- and frequency-domain parameters in 22 genotypically proven SCA patients (SCA1 = 11, SCA2 = 6 and SCA3 = 5) and compared with that of age- and gender-matched controls. RESULTS: Reduction in the standard deviation of RR interval (RR_SD) was seen in 72.7% of SCA patients. There was a reduction in both the parasympathetic and sympathetic parameters in SCA without any change in the ratio of low- to high-frequency power. In SCA1, there was a significant negative correlation between RR_SD and duration of illness but not with the CAG repeat lengths of the abnormal allele. Small sample size of SCA2 and SCA3 precluded similar comparison. CONCLUSIONS:Cardiac autonomic dysfunction, predominantly parasympathetic, was seen in SCA, and the severity correlated with the duration of illness in SCA1.
Authors: Adriana Moro; Mariana Moscovich; Marina Farah; Carlos Henrique F Camargo; Hélio A G Teive; Renato P Munhoz Journal: Cerebellum Ataxias Date: 2019-08-27