Table 2

Autonomic function in patients with systemic inflammatory rheumatic diseases

Parameter

Studies & patients (N)

Baseline patients vs. controls

Stress reactivity within patients

Stress reactivity patients vs. controls

Heart rate

[29] 21 RA vs. 20 HC

RA:

No difference [29,36,37,41]

RA:

Increase [29,36,37,41]

RA:

No difference [36,37,41]

[41] 21 RA vs. 20 HC

Altered (↓) [29]

[36,37] 21 RA vs. 10 OA

SLE:

No difference [31,45]

SLE:

Increase [45]

SLE:

No difference [31] (cogn.) [45]

[31] 23 SLE vs. 23 HC

Not reported [31]

Altered (↓) (cold) [31]

[45] 15 SLE vs. 15 HC

Arthr:

Altered (↑) [32]

Arthr:

Increase [32]

Arthr:

No difference [32]

[32] 19Arthr vs. 38 HC, 17 MFP

Blood pressure (diastolic/systolic)

[29] 21 RA vs. 20 HC

RA:

No difference [29,36,41]

RA:

Increase [29,36,41]

RA:

No difference [36,41]

[41] 21 RA vs. 20 HC

Altered (↓) [29]/(↑) [41]

[36] 21 RA vs. 10 OA

SLE:

No difference [31,45]

SLE:

Increase [45]

SLE:

No difference [31,33,45]

[31] 23 SLE vs. 23 HC

Not reported [33]

Not reported [31,33]

[45] 15 SLE vs. 15 HC

[33] 51 SLE vs. 30 HC

Mean arterial pressure (MAP)

[37] 21 RA vs. 10 OA

RA:

No difference

RA:

Increase

RA:

No difference

Systemic vascular resistance (SVR)

[37] 21 RA vs. 10 OA

RA:

No difference

RA:

Increase severe subgroup

RA:

Altered (↑) severe subgroup

Plasma volume (PV)

[36] 21 RA vs. 10 OA

RA:

No difference

RA:

Decrease

RA:

No difference

Cardiac output (CO)

[37] 21 RA vs. 10 OA

RA:

No difference

RA:

No response

RA:

No difference

Pre-ejection period (PEP)

[41] 21 RA vs. 20 HC

RA:

No difference

RA:

Decrease

RA:

No difference

Plasma catecholamines (nor)epinephrine

[42] 18 RA vs. 14 HC

RA:

No difference [40,42] *

RA:

Increase [40]

RA:

No difference [40,42]

[40] 9 RA, 7 SLE vs. 15 HC

No response [42]

[44] 14 SLE vs. 14 HC, 10 HC

SLE:

No difference [40,45]

SLE:

Increase [40,44,45]

SLE:

No difference [40,45,44] *

[31] 23 SLE vs. 23 HC

Altered (↓) [31]

[45] 15 SLE vs. 15 HC

Not reported [44]

[46] 15 JIA vs. 14 HC

JIA:

No difference (NE) [46]

JIA:

Increase (NE)[46]

JIA:

No difference [46]

Altered (↑) (EPI) [46]

No response (EPI)[46]

Skin conductance (SC)

[29] 21 RA vs. 20 HC

RA:

No difference [29]

RA:

Increase [29]

RA:

Altered (↓) [29]

[32] 19 Arthr vs. 38 HC, 17 MFP

Arthr:

No difference [32]

Arthr:

Increase [32]

Arthr:

Altered (↑) [32]

Pupillary constriction

[32] 19 Arthr vs. 38 HC, 17 MFP

Arthr:

Altered (↓)

Arthr:

Not reported

Arthr:

Altered (↓)

* Findings assumed after inspection of descriptive data.

↑ = altered response pattern is more pronounced compared to a control group; ↓ = altered response pattern is diminished compared to a control group; RA = rheumatoid arthritis, SLE = systemic lupus erythematosus, JIA = juvenile idiopathic arthritis, Arthr = heterogeneous group of arthritis patients, HC = healthy controls, OA = osteoarthritis, MFP = patients with myofascial pain,.., NE = norepinephrine, EPI = epinephrine.

de Brouwer et al. Arthritis Research & Therapy 2010 12:R89   doi:10.1186/ar3016