Introductionthe correlation between primary antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) and cardiovascular events is well known, but the correlation between APS and sudden death is not clear; it probably correlates with sympathetic alterations of the autonomic system.AimTo compare the autonomic nervous system (ANS) in a group of subjects suffering from APS against that of a control group with no cardiovascular risk factors, matched for age, sex, and body mass index.Subjects and methodsAn equal number (n = 31) of subjects with APS, and healthy controls, underwent autonomic evaluation: tilt test, deep breath, Valsalva maneuver, hand grip, lying-to-standing, Stroop, and sweat tests.ResultsCases in the APS group were positive for the tilt test, relating to changes in respiratory rate intervals, by comparison with controls. Results of other tests were also altered significantly in APS cases, by comparison with controls. (The sweat and Stroop tests were only performed in 14 cases). Autonomic disease did not correlate with age, sex, history of disease, arterial or venous thrombosis, or antibody positivity; only their coagulation parameters correlated with autonomic dysfunction.ConclusionAutonomic dysfunction in APS seems to correlate with coagulation parameters. APS patients should receive autonomic evaluation, to minimize the risks of fatal arrhythmias and sudden death.

We wanted to determine whether autonomic dysfunction in patients with lymphoma is related to chemotherapy or represent a paraneoplastic syndrome. 40 patients with current or cured Hodgkin or non-Hodgkin lymphoma and 40 healthy controls, matched for age, gender, hypertension and diabetes mellitus underwent autonomic evaluation (Deep Breath, Valsalva Maneuver, Hand Grip, Lying to Standing, Tilt Test). Current patients also suffering from diabetes or hypertension, or still on chemotherapy revealed autonomic changes, while cured or healthy subjects did not. Autonomic dysfunction in lymphoma is a transient manifestation of a paraneoplastic syndrome.

Abstract-Conclusions: FMD is reduced in patients with PAPS and it correlates with coagulation parameters and presence of antibodies that can explain the rise of arterious imbalance. FMD evaluation is necessary in PAPS subjects to prevent fatal cardiovascular events.

No abstract