LONG-TERM AND SHORT-TERM BLOOD-PRESSURE AND RR-INTERVAL VARIABILITY AND PSYCHOSOMATIC DISTRESS IN CHRONIC-FATIGUE-SYNDROME

1. Chronic low blood pressure has been associated with fatigue and low mood, However, in the chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) the blood pressu re (BP) and heart rate profile and their variabilities have not been c haracterized as yet. 2. We performed office and 24h ambulatory BP reco rdings in 38 subjects (age, 34.8 +/- 8.0 years) who fulfilled the Holm es criteria for CFS and in 38 healthy control subjects (age 35.6 +/- 1 0.5 years), as well as short-term beat-to-beat BP and RR-irnterval rec ordings for 10 min in supine and standing position, and calculated spe ctral indices. 3. In CFS office (123 +/- 19/70 +/- 12 mmHg) as well as 24-h, day- and night-time blood pressure values (116 +/- 11.1/71 +/- 11.1, 121 +/- 9.2/77 +/- 8.0 and 110 +/- 10.5/65 +/- 9.2 mmHg respecti vely) were within reference limits. 4. Heart rate was consistently hig her (P < 0.01) in CFS patients, based on both office (77 +/- 12 compar ed with 68 +/- 12 beats min(-1)) and 24 h ambulatory recordings (77 +/ - 12 compared with 67 +/- 15 beats min(-1)). 5. In supine position, sp ectral indices of BP variability (total, low-frequency and high-freque ncy variances) were all significantly (P < 0.01) lower in CFS, In stan ding position the differences disappeared, Analysis of RR-interval var iability could not detect major alterations in autonomic function in C FS.