Autonomic Function in Chronic Alcoholic Patients.

, Jung, Tae Ho; , Park, Dong Sik; , Nam, Hee Seung; , Jung, Hyun Oh; , Lee, Sang Eok; , Kim, Dong Hyun

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine 2009;33(3):321-326.

Jung, Tae Ho , Park, Dong Sik , Nam, Hee Seung , Jung, Hyun Oh , Lee, Sang Eok , Kim, Dong Hyun

¹Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Korea. imdrnam@gmail.com
²Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Seojin Medical Research Institute, Korea.

만성 알코올리즘 환자의 자율신경 기능

정태호¹, 박동식, 남희승, 정현오, 이상억, 김동현

한림대학교 의과대학 강동성심병원 재활의학교실, ¹서진의학 연구소 재활의학교실

Abstract

Objective
To investigate the relationship among the alcohol drinking history, autonomic symptom scores (ASS), and the autonomic functions measured with sympathetic skin response (SSR) and heart rate variability (HRV) of alcoholic patients, and to assess the difference between the values from the autonomic function tests of patients and normal controls.
Method
SSR and HRV were measured in 44 patients and 26 controls. ASS and Toronto clinical neuropathy scoring system (TCNSS) scores were also assessed. For the HRV, the mean heart rate, standard deviation of the NN intervals (SDNN), total power (TP), very low frequency (VLF), low frequency (LF), and high frequency (HF) in both the supine and standing positions were evaluated. For the SSR, the onset latency and amplitude of both the palm and sole were measured.
Results
There were no significant relationships among the alcohol history, the TCNSS, and the results of the autonomic function tests. There were, however, significant relationships among their ASS and some values from autonomic function tests [i.e., the sole amplitudes, the SDNNs (supine), and the TPs (standing)]. There were significant differences between the sole amplitudes of the patients and controls. In HRV, there were significant differences between the patients and controls with respect to their SDNNs and TPs at a standing position.
Conclusion
Autonomic function tests such as SSR and HRV are related to ASS, but not to alcohol history and TCNSS. Moreover, the values from the autonomic function tests of the alcoholic patients decreased, unlike the normal controls. (J Korean Acad Rehab Med 2009; 33: 321-326)

Key Words: Alcoholism, Autonomic neuropathy, Autonomic symptom score, Heart rate variability, Sympathetic skin response