Abstract
Objective: The mechanisms involved in the relationship between pain perception and hypertension are poorly understood. This study has sought to investigate whether the spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity and the autonomic nervous system balance are related to hypertension-associated hypoalgesia. Methods: In the morning, 73 untreated male subjects (45 hypertensives, 28 normotensives) were submitted to a simultaneous recording of electrocardiographic and blood pressure signals in resting condition. The tracings were analysed off-line to evaluate the spectral components of the low frequency (LF) and high frequency (HF) powers (autoregressive algorithm; LF/HF ratio used in subsequent analysis as an index of sympathovagal balance), and the alphaLF (αLF), an index of baroreflex sensitivity. After the rest period, the subjects underwent dental pain perception evaluation (pulpar tester: test current increasing from 0 to 0.03 mA, expressed in relative Units) to determine the dental pain threshold and tolerance. Afterwards, a 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was performed. Results: A significant relationship was observed between αLF and pain threshold (r=-0.34; p=0.003). When a multivariate analysis was computed to control for age, 24-h systolic pressure and LF/HF ratio, αLF was a predictive independent factor associated with pain threshold (model p=0.019; r=-0.31; p=0.025). Moreover, the 24-h systolic pressure was independently associated with pain threshold (model p=0.019; r=0.30, p=0.031). The relationship between αLF and relative tolerance was not statistically significant. When the association between the LF/HF ratio and pain sensitivity was assessed as a secondary endpoint, no significant relationship was observed. Since no significant interaction was found, the effect of αLF and LF/HF ratio on pain perception was assumed to be similar in normotensive and hypertensive subjects. Conclusions: The relationship found between unstimulated baroreflex sensitivity and pain threshold suggests a modulation of pain perception by baroreflex pathways in hypertension-associated hypoalgesia. In a baseline condition, the autonomic nervous system balance does not seem to influence pain sensitivity.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 127-133 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Autonomic Neuroscience: Basic and Clinical |
| Volume | 99 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Aug 30 2002 |
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Keywords
- Baroreflex sensitivity
- Hypertension, essential
- Pain threshold
- Spectral analysis
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Neurology
- Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
- Endocrine and Autonomic Systems
Cite this
Hypertension-related hypoalgesia, autonomic function and spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity. / Guasti, Luigina; Zanotta, Danilo; Mainardi, Luca T.; Petrozzino, Maria R.; Grimoldi, Paola; Garganico, Deborah; Diolisi, Alessio; Gaudio, Giovanni; Klersy, Catherine; Grandi, Anna M.; Simoni, Cinzia; Cerutti, Sergio.
In: Autonomic Neuroscience: Basic and Clinical, Vol. 99, No. 2, 30.08.2002, p. 127-133.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Hypertension-related hypoalgesia, autonomic function and spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity
AU - Guasti, Luigina
AU - Zanotta, Danilo
AU - Mainardi, Luca T.
AU - Petrozzino, Maria R.
AU - Grimoldi, Paola
AU - Garganico, Deborah
AU - Diolisi, Alessio
AU - Gaudio, Giovanni
AU - Klersy, Catherine
AU - Grandi, Anna M.
AU - Simoni, Cinzia
AU - Cerutti, Sergio
PY - 2002/8/30
Y1 - 2002/8/30
N2 - Objective: The mechanisms involved in the relationship between pain perception and hypertension are poorly understood. This study has sought to investigate whether the spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity and the autonomic nervous system balance are related to hypertension-associated hypoalgesia. Methods: In the morning, 73 untreated male subjects (45 hypertensives, 28 normotensives) were submitted to a simultaneous recording of electrocardiographic and blood pressure signals in resting condition. The tracings were analysed off-line to evaluate the spectral components of the low frequency (LF) and high frequency (HF) powers (autoregressive algorithm; LF/HF ratio used in subsequent analysis as an index of sympathovagal balance), and the alphaLF (αLF), an index of baroreflex sensitivity. After the rest period, the subjects underwent dental pain perception evaluation (pulpar tester: test current increasing from 0 to 0.03 mA, expressed in relative Units) to determine the dental pain threshold and tolerance. Afterwards, a 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was performed. Results: A significant relationship was observed between αLF and pain threshold (r=-0.34; p=0.003). When a multivariate analysis was computed to control for age, 24-h systolic pressure and LF/HF ratio, αLF was a predictive independent factor associated with pain threshold (model p=0.019; r=-0.31; p=0.025). Moreover, the 24-h systolic pressure was independently associated with pain threshold (model p=0.019; r=0.30, p=0.031). The relationship between αLF and relative tolerance was not statistically significant. When the association between the LF/HF ratio and pain sensitivity was assessed as a secondary endpoint, no significant relationship was observed. Since no significant interaction was found, the effect of αLF and LF/HF ratio on pain perception was assumed to be similar in normotensive and hypertensive subjects. Conclusions: The relationship found between unstimulated baroreflex sensitivity and pain threshold suggests a modulation of pain perception by baroreflex pathways in hypertension-associated hypoalgesia. In a baseline condition, the autonomic nervous system balance does not seem to influence pain sensitivity.
AB - Objective: The mechanisms involved in the relationship between pain perception and hypertension are poorly understood. This study has sought to investigate whether the spontaneous baroreflex sensitivity and the autonomic nervous system balance are related to hypertension-associated hypoalgesia. Methods: In the morning, 73 untreated male subjects (45 hypertensives, 28 normotensives) were submitted to a simultaneous recording of electrocardiographic and blood pressure signals in resting condition. The tracings were analysed off-line to evaluate the spectral components of the low frequency (LF) and high frequency (HF) powers (autoregressive algorithm; LF/HF ratio used in subsequent analysis as an index of sympathovagal balance), and the alphaLF (αLF), an index of baroreflex sensitivity. After the rest period, the subjects underwent dental pain perception evaluation (pulpar tester: test current increasing from 0 to 0.03 mA, expressed in relative Units) to determine the dental pain threshold and tolerance. Afterwards, a 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was performed. Results: A significant relationship was observed between αLF and pain threshold (r=-0.34; p=0.003). When a multivariate analysis was computed to control for age, 24-h systolic pressure and LF/HF ratio, αLF was a predictive independent factor associated with pain threshold (model p=0.019; r=-0.31; p=0.025). Moreover, the 24-h systolic pressure was independently associated with pain threshold (model p=0.019; r=0.30, p=0.031). The relationship between αLF and relative tolerance was not statistically significant. When the association between the LF/HF ratio and pain sensitivity was assessed as a secondary endpoint, no significant relationship was observed. Since no significant interaction was found, the effect of αLF and LF/HF ratio on pain perception was assumed to be similar in normotensive and hypertensive subjects. Conclusions: The relationship found between unstimulated baroreflex sensitivity and pain threshold suggests a modulation of pain perception by baroreflex pathways in hypertension-associated hypoalgesia. In a baseline condition, the autonomic nervous system balance does not seem to influence pain sensitivity.
KW - Baroreflex sensitivity
KW - Hypertension, essential
KW - Pain threshold
KW - Spectral analysis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0037199786&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0037199786&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S1566-0702(02)00052-8
DO - 10.1016/S1566-0702(02)00052-8
M3 - Article
C2 - 12241087
AN - SCOPUS:0037199786
VL - 99
SP - 127
EP - 133
JO - Autonomic Neuroscience: Basic and Clinical
JF - Autonomic Neuroscience: Basic and Clinical
SN - 1566-0702
IS - 2
ER -