TY - JOUR
T1 - Sympathetic and cardiovascular activity during cataplexy in narcolepsy
AU - Donadio, Vincenzo
AU - Plazzi, Giuseppe
AU - Vandi, Stefano
AU - Franceschini, Christian
AU - Karlsson, Tomas
AU - Montagna, Pasquale
AU - Vetrugno, Roberto
AU - Bugiardini, Enrico
AU - Mignot, Emmanuel
AU - Liguori, Rocco
PY - 2008/12
Y1 - 2008/12
N2 - Autonomic nervous system activity changes have been described during cataplexy as playing a role in triggering it. To confirm these previous findings, we investigated the time course of sympathetic and cardiovascular activities during cataplexy. We made for the first time microneurographic recordings of 10 cataplectic episodes in three patients with hypocretin-deficient narcolepsy. During microneurography, muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) was recorded simultaneously with heart rate (HR), respiratory movements, arterial finger blood pressure (BP), electroencephalography, electro-oculogram and superficial electromyogram. Results showed no significant autonomic changes before the onset of the cataplectic episodes. Cataplexy was associated with a significant increase in MSNA and BP compared with baseline, whereas HR was markedly decreased. An irregular breathing pattern mainly characterized by apnea typically occurred during the attacks. In conclusion, our findings did not show significant changes in autonomic activity prior to cataplexy onset, ruling out a triggering role of the autonomic system. However, cataplexy was associated with co-activation of sympathetic and parasympathetic autonomic systems, a pattern reminiscent of that reported during the vigilance reaction in animals.
AB - Autonomic nervous system activity changes have been described during cataplexy as playing a role in triggering it. To confirm these previous findings, we investigated the time course of sympathetic and cardiovascular activities during cataplexy. We made for the first time microneurographic recordings of 10 cataplectic episodes in three patients with hypocretin-deficient narcolepsy. During microneurography, muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) was recorded simultaneously with heart rate (HR), respiratory movements, arterial finger blood pressure (BP), electroencephalography, electro-oculogram and superficial electromyogram. Results showed no significant autonomic changes before the onset of the cataplectic episodes. Cataplexy was associated with a significant increase in MSNA and BP compared with baseline, whereas HR was markedly decreased. An irregular breathing pattern mainly characterized by apnea typically occurred during the attacks. In conclusion, our findings did not show significant changes in autonomic activity prior to cataplexy onset, ruling out a triggering role of the autonomic system. However, cataplexy was associated with co-activation of sympathetic and parasympathetic autonomic systems, a pattern reminiscent of that reported during the vigilance reaction in animals.
KW - Blood pressure
KW - Cataplexy
KW - Heart rate
KW - Muscle sympathetic nerve activity
KW - Narcolepsy
KW - Vigilance reaction
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=57449116371&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=57449116371&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1111/j.1365-2869.2008.00682.x
DO - 10.1111/j.1365-2869.2008.00682.x
M3 - Article
C2 - 19021855
AN - SCOPUS:57449116371
VL - 17
SP - 458
EP - 463
JO - Journal of Sleep Research
JF - Journal of Sleep Research
SN - 0962-1105
IS - 4
ER -