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Particulars: A 25-year old male was referred for autonomic function test with a clinical impression of: Dysautonomia of unknown cause. He is suspected to have Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.
Results
Cardiovascular reflexes: Resting cardiac vagal tone (CVT): was 2.64 units in the linear vagal scale (LVS) which is an abnormally very low resting cardiac vagal tone, (Normal range, 5-10 units in the LVS), associated with no Abnormal Spontaneous Brainstem Activation (ASBAs). There was very low spontaneous baroreflex function. Resting heart rate: was 91 beats/min, which is a resting tachycardia consistent with this level of CVT. Breathing: there was normal breathing at the rate of 17 breaths/min. Deep breathing: CVT was 4.88 units and the maximum CVT was 8.29 units in the LVS indicating normal respiratory modulation of CVT within the brainstem during deep breathing. Carotid massage: CVT increased by 3.1 units in the LVS showing a low cardiodepressor effect (normal increase 5-20 units), blood pressure (BP) changed by -16.0 mmHg indicating a normal vasodepressor effect (normal drop 10-25 mmHg). Baroreflex responsiveness in isometric exercise: was 4.09 ms/mmHg and 5.99 ms/mmHg was predicted from the patients height, it indicates a normal central gain of the baroreflex system. Valsalvas ratio: was normal at 1.47 (normal range, 1.2-1.8).
Nutritive Peripheral Circulation: Supine pO2 was 69.0 (should normally be above 60 mmHg) and supine pCO2 was 41.2 mmHg (normal range; 39-44 mmHg). There was good nutritive gaseous exchange in peripheral tissues at rest. There were also good gaseous responses during deep breathing indicating normal diffusion pathway into peripheral tissues.
Orthostasis: Cardiac response: showed a normal response in a 30:15 ratio test. BP stability: was poor, systolic BP varied by -70.0 mmHg, normal variation is <25 mmHg. Mean supine arterial BP was 92.3 mmHg indicating normal supine pressure (the normal range of supine mean arterial BP, 80-105 mmHg). Orthostatic hypotension: Postural change in diastolic BP was 18.4 mmHg, so no postural hypotension. There was good inotropic response on standing upright.
Sympathetic function in general: There was no test done for postganglionic damage. The BP evidence suggests a normal baseline supine sympathetic tone. There was poor baseline inotropic function. Control of resistance blood vessels in skeletal muscles during isometric exercise: showed muscle sympathetic failure. There was inotropic fatigue on sitting upright. Cardioaccelerator function in isometric exercise: showed a cardioaccelerator failure. There was normal inotropic response to isometric exercise. Blood pressure response to Valsalvas manoeuvre: BP change in phase IIe was -38.8 mmHg and in phase III was -6.8 mmHg showing evidence of reduced venous return. BP change in phase IIi was 11.2 mmHg indicating a normal splanchnic sympathetic tone.
Sudomotor function in the skin
Vasomotor failure in the skin
Emotional sudomotor function was not assessed
Thermoregulatory vasomotor failure was detected in all 4 limbs
Interpretation: The results show evidence of muscle sympathetic failure, cardioaccelerator failure but a normal splanchnic sympathetic tone in the deep target organs of the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system. There was evidence of reduced venous return to the heart. In the cutaneous targets, there was generalised thermoregulatory vasomotor failure. In the parasympathetic division, there was abnormally very low resting cardiac vagal tone. Baroreflex system had a normal central gain and there was normal respiratory modulation of the CVT within the brainstem during deep breathing. There was low cardiodepressor but normal vasodepressor effects of the carotid reflex. Of the non-specific tests, there was no postural hypotension, a normal Valsalva's ratio and normal response of the heart to standing upright.
Conclusion and Recommendations: This patient has sympathetic dysfunctions in the heart and in skeletal muscles and a very low central parasympathetic activity associated with a skewed baroreflex dysfunction in which only the cardiodepressor function of the carotid is affected. The pattern of central parasympathetic disturbances suggests that this patient should be investigated for possible exposure to environmental toxins, particularly pesticides. He currently has good nutritive gaseous exchange in peripheral tissues at rest and the good gaseous responses in peripheral tissues during deep breathing indicate good diffusion pathway into tissues. The patient has inotropic fatigue during orthostasis and when sitting upright, which means he will have exercise intolerance and will fatigue easily. He therefore requires support of the inotropic function of the heart through dietary supplements.
Dr. Peter Julu, MBChB, MSc, PhD
Specialist Autonomic Neurophysiologist and Consultant Physician
Peripheral Nerve and Autonomic Unit, I.N.S.
Professor Mathias is th guy I think. Located in London. I watched this set of vids last night of a patient of his and her treatments. Hope it might help you. http://www.youtube.com/user/zillylilly20e
Sleepy
Low blood volume or high nitric oxide causes reduced venous return to the heart. Low blood volume is very common in ME/CFS and causes high level of noradrenaline, angiotensin II and decreases your cardiac output.There was evidence of reduced venous return to the heart.
This is very important. Pesticides are neurotoxic and can mess up your autonomic nervous system.The pattern of central parasympathetic disturbances suggests that this patient should be investigated for possible exposure to environmental toxins, particularly pesticides.
Interesting, thanks for posting. Looks like some very comprehensive autonomic testing. I don't know of any testing like that in Australia. The Tilt Table seems to be about all that is available here
Sadly, while there are quite a few tilt tables and autonomic testing units around the country (well, one in each state in the capital cities), there are very few autonomic specialists who would know how to get the most information out of them.