Relation between fatigue and autonomic disturbances in multiple sclerosis

Abstract

Fatigue is a common symptom in multiple sclerosis (MS). The objective of this study was to relate fatigue and autonomic disturbances in MS. Fifty patients with MS relapsing remitting clinical form participated of this study. Thirty three (66%) were women and 17 (34%) men. Score less or equal to 3.5 in the EDSS. Five non invasive cardiovascular tests were applied in all patients for the sympathetic and parasympathetic evaluation. The results obtained in the hand grip test were increase in the blood pressure of 14.62±9.13 mmHg for the group with fatigue and of 21.68±7.18 mmHg for the non fatigue group. This difference was statistically significant (p<0.05). Conclusion is that there is a loss in the capacity to increase the blood pressure in patients with fatigue suggesting a sympathetic dysfunction.