ABSTRACT
The conditions of postganglionic fibers and parasympathetic fibers of vagus nerve were studied in 102 patients with varioustypes of polyneuritis and in 43 healthy individuals. In the control group the amplitude of evoked cutaneous sympathetic potential (ECSP) on the hand was 330 +/- 102 microV with 1.42 +/- 0.12 s latency, on the foot 230 +/- 81.7 microV with 2.04 +/- 0.17 s latency. Respiration arrhythmia at rest amounted to 45 +/- 14.7 ms and in forced ventilation 80.6 +/- 28.5 ms. Substantial changes of ECSP parameters and heart periods are characteristics of polyneuropathies. The disorders are especially severe in axonal polyneuropathies of various genesis: hand ECSP amplitude decreased to M + 107.5 +/- 118.3 microV, foot ECSP M-61.9 +/- 79.2 microV. Latencies increased on hand to M-1.8 +/- 0.55 s and on foot to M-2.29 +/- 0.71 s. Heart periods are also changed: M-27.9 +/- 1.1 ms at rest, M-66.9 +/- 56.4 ms in forced ventilation. Demyelinating polynephropathies elicit less pronounced changes in ECSP and respiratory arrhythmia. No clear correlations were detected between heart periods or ECSP parameters and clinical signs.
