The effect of Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) on the short-term variability of blood pressure and heart rate was evaluated in six patients presenting with a moderate form of the syndrome, i.e. unable to stand up unaided and without respiratory failure, at the height of the disease and during recovery. The patients were compared with six age-matched healthy volunteers. During the acute phase of the syndrome, GBS patients exhibited a significant heart rate elevation (+26 beats/min compared with healthy subjects), but the acceleratory response to atropine, or to 60 ° head-up tilt, was maintained. Resting plasma noradrenaline levels were high in acute GBS, but the secretory response to tilt was preserved. Desensitization to noradrenaline was observed in acute GBS with a reduced pressor action of this α-adrenoceptor agonist. Blood pressure levels were normal and head-up tilt did not induce orthostatic hypotension in this moderate form of GBS. Power spectral analysis demonstrated marked alterations in cardiovascular variability. The overall heart period variability was markedly reduced with the reduction predominantly in the high-frequency (respiratory) range (-73%). The low-frequency component of heart period variability was also reduced (-54%). This cardiovascular profile of moderate GBS at the height of the disease could result from a demyelination of the reflex loop controlling respiratory oscillations in heart rate and from a desensitization of the arterial tree to an elevated plasma noradrenaline. Sympathetic nervous activation may contribute to the high resting heart rate in acute GBS.
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Research Article|
May 11 1999
Short-term variability of blood pressure and heart rate in Guillain-Barreá syndrome without respiratory failure
Djillali ANNANE;
Djillali ANNANE
1Service de Réanimation Médicale, Hôpital Raymond Poincaré,104 Boulevard Raymond Poincaré 92380 Garches, France
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Véronique BAUDRIE;
Véronique BAUDRIE
*Centre de Pharmacologie Clinique, Association Claude Bernard, Faculté de Médecine Necker, 156 Rue de Vaugirard, 75015 Paris, France
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Anne-Sophie BLANC;
Anne-Sophie BLANC
1Service de Réanimation Médicale, Hôpital Raymond Poincaré,104 Boulevard Raymond Poincaré 92380 Garches, France
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Dominique LAUDE;
Dominique LAUDE
*Centre de Pharmacologie Clinique, Association Claude Bernard, Faculté de Médecine Necker, 156 Rue de Vaugirard, 75015 Paris, France
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Jean-Claude RAPHAËL;
Jean-Claude RAPHAËL
1Service de Réanimation Médicale, Hôpital Raymond Poincaré,104 Boulevard Raymond Poincaré 92380 Garches, France
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Jean-Luc ELGHOZI
*Centre de Pharmacologie Clinique, Association Claude Bernard, Faculté de Médecine Necker, 156 Rue de Vaugirard, 75015 Paris, France
Correspondence: Professor Jean-Luc Elghozi.
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Online ISSN: 1470-8736
Print ISSN: 0143-5221
The Biochemical Society and the Medical Research Society © 1999
1999
Clin Sci (Lond) (1999) 96 (6): 613–621.
Citation
Djillali ANNANE, Véronique BAUDRIE, Anne-Sophie BLANC, Dominique LAUDE, Jean-Claude RAPHAËL, Jean-Luc ELGHOZI; Short-term variability of blood pressure and heart rate in Guillain-Barreá syndrome without respiratory failure. Clin Sci (Lond) 1 June 1999; 96 (6): 613–621. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/cs0960613
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