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

, Sohn, Min Kyun; , Hong, Ju Hyung; , Kim, Bong Ok; , Yune, Seung Ho

Original Article

Journal of the Korean Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine 1998;22(6):1271-1278.

Sohn, Min Kyun , Hong, Ju Hyung , Kim, Bong Ok , Yune, Seung Ho

¹Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Chungnam National University College of Medicine.
²Shinkwang Rehabilitation Hospital.
³Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Konyang University College of Medicine.

척수손상 환자에서 교감신경피부반응과 심박간 변화

손민균, 홍주형¹, 김봉옥, 윤승호²

충남대학교 의과대학 재활의학교실, ¹신광재활의원 및 ²건양대학교 의과대학

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.

Key Words: Sympathetic skin response, R-R interval, Spinal cord injury, Autonomic nervous system