TY - JOUR
T1 - Is autonomic nervous system involved in restless legs syndrome during wakefulness?
AU - Izzi, Francesca
AU - Placidi, Fabio
AU - Romigi, Andrea
AU - Lauretti, Benedetta
AU - Marfia, Girolama A.
AU - Mercuri, Nicola B.
AU - Marciani, Maria G.
AU - Rocchi, Camilla
PY - 2014/11/1
Y1 - 2014/11/1
N2 - Objective: To investigate cardiovascular autonomic function in patients with restless leg syndrome (RLS) by means of cardiovascular reflexes and heart rate variability (HRV) during wakefulness. Methods: Twelve RLS patients and 14 controls underwent cardiovascular function tests including head-up tilt test (HUTT), Valsalva maneuver, deep breathing, hand grip, and cold face. HRV analysis was performed in the frequency domain using both autoregressive (AR) and fast Fourier transform algorithms in rest supine condition and during HUTT. Results: There was a significant increase in systolic blood pressure values in supine rest condition and a trend toward a lower Valsalva ratio in RLS patients with respect to controls. The significant and physiological changes of HRV at HUTT detected in healthy subjects were not found in RLS patients. Conclusion: RLS patients exhibit a tendency toward hypertension, reduced amplitude of both sympathetic and parasympathetic responses at HUTT, as well as blunted parasympathetic drive to blood pressure changes. These findings, if confirmed by more controlled studies, might support the hypothesis of autonomic nervous system involvement during wakefulness and consequently an enhanced cardiovascular risk in RLS.
AB - Objective: To investigate cardiovascular autonomic function in patients with restless leg syndrome (RLS) by means of cardiovascular reflexes and heart rate variability (HRV) during wakefulness. Methods: Twelve RLS patients and 14 controls underwent cardiovascular function tests including head-up tilt test (HUTT), Valsalva maneuver, deep breathing, hand grip, and cold face. HRV analysis was performed in the frequency domain using both autoregressive (AR) and fast Fourier transform algorithms in rest supine condition and during HUTT. Results: There was a significant increase in systolic blood pressure values in supine rest condition and a trend toward a lower Valsalva ratio in RLS patients with respect to controls. The significant and physiological changes of HRV at HUTT detected in healthy subjects were not found in RLS patients. Conclusion: RLS patients exhibit a tendency toward hypertension, reduced amplitude of both sympathetic and parasympathetic responses at HUTT, as well as blunted parasympathetic drive to blood pressure changes. These findings, if confirmed by more controlled studies, might support the hypothesis of autonomic nervous system involvement during wakefulness and consequently an enhanced cardiovascular risk in RLS.
KW - Autonomic nervous system
KW - Cardiovascular reflexes
KW - Heart rate variability
KW - Periodic limb movements
KW - Restless legs syndrome
KW - Sleep
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U2 - 10.1016/j.sleep.2014.06.022
DO - 10.1016/j.sleep.2014.06.022
M3 - Article
C2 - 25266501
AN - SCOPUS:84908454887
VL - 15
SP - 1392
EP - 1397
JO - Sleep Medicine
JF - Sleep Medicine
SN - 1389-9457
IS - 11
ER -