Supression of cardiac parasympathetic functions in patients with right hemispheric stroke

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between sympathetic and cardiac parasympathetic function and the side of the lesion in stroke patients. Methods: Thirty-two patients with stroke and 29 healthy age-matched control subjects were studied. Sympathetic skin responses (SSR) and RR interval variations (RRIV) during rest and deep breathing mere recorded for the assessment of sympathetic and vagal parasympathetic function, respectively. Results: The mean SSR amplitude values in patients compared with controls were 337 +/- 244 versus 1897 +/- 848 (P < 0.0001) for right hemispheric lesions and 466 +/- 398 versus 1873 +/- 843 (P < 0.0001) for left hemispheric lesions. The mean SSR latencies in patients compared,vith controls were 1526 +/- 163 versus 1395 +/- 109 (P<0.05) for right hemispheric lesions and 1490 +/- 125 versus 1423 +/- 112 (P< 0.05) for left hemispheric lesions. RRIV (during deep breathing)/RRIV (at rest) ratios in patients compared with controls were 1.20 +/- 0.25 versus 1.84 +/- 0.52 (P < 0.0001), and 1.55 +/- 0.88 versus 1.84 +/- 0.52 (P< 0.05) for right and left hemispheric lesions, respectively. Conclusion: Supression of vagal parasympathetic activity was more apparent in stroke patients,vith right hemispheric lesions in our series. Therefore, the right hemisphere seems to have a greater effect upon parasympathetic activity, fur J Neurol 6:685-690 (C) 1999 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.