Cardiovascular Autonomic Nervous System Dysfunction In Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract

heumatoid arthritis (RA) is a systemic, chronic inflammatory disorder of unknown etiology that primarily involves joints also central, peripheral and autonomic nervous system Autonomicneuropathyresultsfromtheaffectionofthesympatheticand/orparasympatheticnervefibers.Autonomicneuropathymanifestsclinicallyascold,clammy,cyanoticextremities,peripheralvasospasm,palpitation,orthostatichypotension,syncopalattacksandsexualdysfunction. Itcanbeassessedbyclinicalandelectrophysiologicaltests.Clinically,asusingactiveorthostaticstresstestandpassiveorthostaticstresstest(tilttabletest). TheaimofthepresentworkwastoevaluatethecardiovascularautonomicdysfunctioninpatientswithRheumatoidarthritisandtocorrelateitwithdiseaseactivity. ThisstudyincludedsixtyEgyptianwithRAdiagnosedaccordingto2010classificationcriteriaforRA.theywerefemales(81.6%)and(18.4%)weremales.Themeanage±SDofpatientswas(53.1±12.4)rangingfrom(23-79)years.Theirmeandiseaseduration±SDwas(13.95±7.86)yearsrangingfrom(5–38)years,alsomeanDAS28score±SDwas2.97±0.77rangingfrom(1.21–4.49).