Sympathetic Skin Response and Heart Rate Variation in Spinal Cord Injured Patients

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Most spinal cord injured patients suffered form various autonomic dysfunction. The purpose of this study is evaluation of sympathetic skin response (SSR) and R-R interval variability (RRIV) as a method of autonomic function test in spinal cord injured patients. METHOD: Thirty-six spinal cord injured patients were enrolled in this study. SSR was recorded in the palm and sole by electrical stimulation of right median nerve and RRIV during rest, deep breathing and Valsalva maneuver for 1 minute. RESULTS: The higher level of spinal cord injury, the higher rate of the abnormal sympathetic skin response in the palm and sole and more reduced values of Valsalva ratio (p<0.05). The parameters of sympathetic skin response and R-R interval variability were not correlated with injury severity of spinal cord and their autonomic symptoms. CONCLUSION: Evaluation of SSR and RRIV could be helpful methods to evaluate autonomic function in the spinal cord injured patients.