[Glossodynia and the function of the autonomic nervous system--frequency spectrum analysis of RR intervals recorded electrocardiographically].

This study explored the relationship between the function of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) and glossodynia. The function of the ANS was examined in patients with glossodynia by frequency analysis of heart rate variability. The subjects were 50 women given the diagnosis of glossodynia and 24 healthy volunteers. The heart rate variability of these subjects was evaluated. Mean values of the high frequency power at rest were 1.323 +/- 1.484 ms2 in the group without functional disorders (NF group), 1.861 +/- 1.601 ms2 in the group with functional disorders (F group), and 3.229 +/- 2.044 ms2 in the standard group (H group). Mean values of HF/LF were 0.968 +/- 0.961 in the NF group, and 1.696 +/- 0.847 in the H group. Mean values of the high frequency power at rest were 1.032 +/- 977 ms2 in the group with CMIs in regions III and IV (III-IV group), 3.299 +/- 2.044 ms2 in the H group, and 2.314 +/- 1.883 ms2 in the group with CMIs in regions I and II (I-II group). Mean values of HF/LF were 0.965 +/- 0.744 in the III-IV group and 1.696 +/- 0.847 in the H group. The results of this study suggest that nervous tension, which was the cause of indefinite complaints in patients with glossodynia, had resulted from a pronounced reduction in activities of the parasympathetic nervous system, but not from an excessive increase in activities of the sympathetic nervous system. An assessment of the function of the ANS by means of heart rate variability seemed to be useful for comprehending the clinical conditions of glossodynia.