ARE HEART-RATE RESPONSES REPRODUCIBLE IN THE TILT-TABLE TEST

Measurement of blood pressure and heart rate in active orthostasis has proven to be effective in the diagnosis of autonomic regulatory dysfu nctions. The following study was carried out in order to clarify to wh at extent reproducible heart rate reactions also occur in passive orth ostasis. 61 people with normal results in five standardized tests were examined. All 61 test persons had individually differing courses of h eart rate. After an initial increase of frequency an almost straight l ine results from a superimposed projection of the graphs. In 20 of the se cases the tilt-table test was repeated in order to detect intra-ind ividual regularities. Even when the test was repeated, no reproducible intraindividual heart rate reactions occured. And here as well, proje ction of the graphs produced an almost straight line. We could not fin d any quotient, such as the 30/15 ratio in active orthostasis, during our tests with the tilt-table.