Autonomic dysfunction in patients with multiple sclerosis.

The disturbances of autonomic cardiovascular reflexes have already been described in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). It seems that this disturbances are the result of reflex pathways impairment in the central nervous system. We have tested 28 patients with MS and control group of 21 healthy volunteers using a set of autonomic cardiovascular reflexes tests. In all of patients zones of demyelinization have been discovered with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The biggest number of abnormal results was found in respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA) test (60.7%) and cortical activation test (35.7%). In 11 patients we found abnormal results in 2 or more tests. Patients with abnormal results in 4 or more tests had clinical impairment of other autonomic functions (urinary bladder regulation). The results of autonomic dysfunction tests show positive correlation to the MRI findings.