AUTONOMIC DYSFUNCTION IN PARKINSONS-DISEASE AND VASCULAR PARKINSONISM

Objectives - To clarify the autonomic dysfunction in idiopathic Parkin son's disease (PD) and vascular parkinsonism (VP), we investigated the relationship between blood pressure (BP) and pulse rate (PR), the sta nding test, and the coefficient of variation in the R-R interval (CVR- R). Materials and methods - BP and PR were determined automatically ev ery 30 min for 24 h in 15 PD patients, 15 VP patients and 15 healthy v olunteers. The CVR-R, values evaluated by an electrocardiogram and the standing test were also performed. Results - The BP-PR relationship w as lost in the patient groups. There was no significant difference in the standing test between the control and patient groups. A significan tly decreased CVR-R was observed in the VP group. Conclusion - We spec ulate that our results may reflect an imbalance between the sympatheti c and parasympathetic nervous systems in PD and VP.