SYMPATHETIC SKIN-RESPONSE AND R-R INTERVAL VARIATION IN RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS - 2 SIMPLE TESTS FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF AUTONOMIC FUNCTION

Autonomic nervous system involvement with peripheral neuropathy is a w ell known complication of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In the assessment of autonomic function of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, we perfo rmed sympathetic skin response (SSR) and R-R interval variation (RRIV) tests in 30 patients and in 30 normal controls. Of 30 patients, 5 had complaints of clinical dysautonomic symptoms. SSRs were abnormal in 6 of 30 patients, whereas 8 showed abnormal RRIVs during deep breathing . Nine of 30 patients also showed electrophysiologic evidence of perip heral neuropathy. All 5 of the patients with clinical dysautonomic sym ptoms showed abnormal SSR and RRIV test results. No patient with norma l results on both tests had clinical dysautonomia. This study showed t hat there are frequent abnormalities in SSR and RRIV tests in patients with rheumatoid arthritis whether there is a clinical symptom of auto nomic dysfunction or not.