Alternations in the cardiovascular autonomic regulation and growth factors in autism

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) represents a serious neurodevelopmental disorder associated with autonomic nervous system dysregulation. The aim was to study complex cardiovascular autonomic regulation using heart rate variability (HRV) and systolic blood pressure variability (SBPV) linear/non-linear analysis at rest and during orthostasis, and to assess plasma levels of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in autistic children. Twenty-five ASD boys and 25 age and gender-matched children at the age 7 15 years were examined. After venous blood taking, continuous ECG and blood pressure biosignals were recorded at rest and during orthostasis. Evaluated parameters: RR intervals, high- and low-frequency band of HRV spectral analysis (HF-HRV, LF-HRV), symbolic dynamics parameters 0V %, 1V %, 2LV %, 2UV %, low- and high-frequency band of SBPV (LF-SBPV, HF-SBPV), systolic, diastolic, mean blood pressure, EGF, VEGF plasma levels. RR intervals were significantly shortened and the HF-HRV, LF-SBPV, HF-SBPV parameters were significantly lower at rest, the HF-HRV and LF-SBPV remained lower during orthostasis in autistic children compared to controls (p0.05). EGF plasma levels were significantly lower in ASD compared to controls (p=0.046). No significant differences were found in remaining parameters. Our study revealed tachycardia, cardiovagal underactivity, and blunted sympathetic vasomotor regulation at rest and during orthostasis in autistic children. Additionally, complex heart rate dynamics are similar in autistic children than controls. Furthermore, EGF was reduced in autistic children without significant correlations with any autonomic parameters. We suggest that the abnormal complex cardiovascular reflex control could contribute to understanding the pathway linking autonomic features and autism.

The autism-associated Meis2 gene is necessary for cardiac baroreflex regulation in mice

“…The barore ex is associated with some pathological conditions 48,51 , but only recently, imbalance of cardiac autonomic regulation in patients with intellectual disabilities and ASD is emerging [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] . However, the origins of dysautonomia in ASD is still unclear and somehow controversial with highly variable pro les depending on the studies.…”

“…Consequent to this genetic diversity, phenotypic characterization of the syndrome has often proven di cult, resulting in inconsistent conclusions. For instance, despite a paucity of information and con icting ndings in the literature, imbalance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of the autonomic nervous system is commonly observed in ASD patients [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] . Overall, these studies point to a lower autonomic nervous system activity suggested to likely result from a decreased parasympathetic activity.…”

The autism-associated Meis2 gene is necessary for cardiac baroreflex regulation in mice

“…Consequent to this genetic diversity, phenotypic characterization of the syndrome has often proven difficult, resulting in inconsistent conclusions. For instance, despite a paucity of information and conflicting findings in the literature, an imbalance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of the autonomic nervous system is commonly observed in ASD patients 7 – 15 . Overall, these studies point to a lower autonomic nervous system activity suggested to likely result from a decreased parasympathetic activity.…”

The autism-associated Meis2 gene is necessary for cardiac baroreflex regulation in mice

“…Consequent to this genetic diversity, phenotypic characterization of the syndrome has often proven difficult, resulting in inconsistent conclusions. For instance, despite a paucity of information and conflicting findings in the literature, imbalance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic branches of the autonomic nervous system is commonly observed in ASD patients [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] . Overall, these studies point to a lower autonomic nervous system activity suggested to likely result from a decreased parasympathetic activity.…”