Assessment of the sympatho-vagal interaction in central serous chorioretinopathy measured by power spectral analysis of heart rate variability

Abstract

Background: The purpose of this study was to measure the activity of the sympathetic nervous system in patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) by power spectral analysis (PSA) of heart-rate (RR-interval) variability, a noninvasive method that reflects the balance of the sympathetic-vagal interaction. Methods: The following four different groups of patients were measured: group 1, acute CSC (n = 11); group 2, acute recurrent CSC (n = 7); group 3, chronic persistent CSC (n = 4); group 4, complete remission of CSC (n = 9). The data recorded for these 31 patients (29 men and 2 women), with an average age of 44 years were compared with those noted for a group of 15 age-matched healthy individuals. The sympathetic-vagal balance is expressed by the ratio of the low-frequency component (LF) to the high-frequency component (HF) of the power spectrum. Results: Significant differences in mean LF/HF ratios were found as follows for all but one of the subgroups as compared with the normal controls (LF/HF = 1.1): group 1, LF/HF = 5.5 (P < 0.01); group 2, LF/HF = 5,4 (P < 0.05); group 3, LF/HF = 4.2 (P = 0.1); and group 4, LF/HF = 3.0 (P < 0.01). There was also a significant difference between active CSC and inactive CSC (P < 0.05). Conclusions: These results support the view that the pathogenesis of CSC is related to an increase in the sympathetic activity of the autonomic nervous system. Furthermore, the LF/HF ratios seem to correlate with the activity of the disease.