CARDIAC AUTONOMIC DYSFUNCTION IN RELAPSING-REMITTING MULTIPLE-SCLEROSIS DURING A STABLE PHASE

The autonomic cardiovascular system was studied by means of autonomic tests and heart rate variability related to body movements during slee p, in 20 patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis in a sta ble phase and in 9 normal subjects. Responses to autonomic tests in mu ltiple sclerosis and control subjects were similar, Heart rate variabi lity, instead, showed a lower degree of adaptability in patients with multiple sclerosis than in controls during sleep, because of sympathet ic system dysfunction, No significant correlation between magnetic res onance lesions and cardiovascular sleep indexes was found.