Autonomic Dysfunction Measured by Valsalva Ratio in Parkinson's ?Disease

J Korean Neurol Assoc > Volume 5(2); 1987 > Article

Journal of the Korean Neurological Association 1987;5(2): 230-235.

파킨슨병의 자율신경계 장애-Valsalva Ratio 측정에 의한 연구

김홍준, 이상복, 명호진

서울대학교 신경과.

Autonomic Dysfunction Measured by Valsalva Ratio in Parkinson's ?Disease

Heung-Joon Kim, M.D., Sang-Bok Lee, M.D., Ho-Jin Myung, M.D.

Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Seoul National University

Abstract

As a clinical tool to evaluate autonomic dysfunction, ""Valsalva ratio"" was measured in 36 Parkinson's disease patients (15 men, 21 women) and 10 control subjects (4 men, 6 women). In this study, the Valsalva ratio was defined as the ratio of peak to nadir heart rate during Valsalva maneuver, namely voluntary and transient breathholding in maximal inspiration state with subsequent release by the subject. EKG was monitored throughout the whole process to observe the moment to moment change of heart rate. The subject group with Parkinson's disease was subdivided by clinical variables including sex, are, Hoehn and Yahr clinical stage, duration of symptoms, and duration of therapy with L-dopa containing drugs. The Valsalva ratio of the subject group as a whole was less than that of the control group (P<0.05). But the differences of Valsalva ratio between the subgroups graded by above clinical variables of Parkinson's disease were not statistically significant. The clinical applicability of ""Valsalva ratio"" measurement described in this study was discussed.