Autonomic Dysfunction in Unaffected First-Degree Relatives of Patients Suffering From Schizophrenia
Autonomic Dysfunction in Unaffected First-Degree Relatives of Patients Suffering From Schizophrenia
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DOI：
10.1093/schbul/sbp024
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发表时间：
2010-09-01
影响因子：
6.6
通讯作者：
Sauer, Heinrich
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Baer, Karl-Juergen;Berger, Sandy;Sauer, Heinrich
近年来的研究表明，急性精神分裂症患者存在心脏自主神经功能紊乱，其主要表现为迷走神经调节功能减弱和交感神经调节功能增强。为了了解精神分裂症患者心脏自主神经功能的意义，我们将这些研究扩展到患者的亲属。在这项研究中，我们评估了精神分裂症患者的健康一级亲属（n = 36）的心脏自主神经调节，以调查推定的遗传影响。数据与年龄、性别和体力活动相匹配的对照组以及精神分裂症患者进行了比较。一级亲属表现出减弱的自主神经功能障碍，但与心率迷走神经调节降低、压力反射敏感性降低的患者相同，但未检测到血压变异性的差异。患者的亲属在QT变异性方面也表现出类似的模式。此外，后代与同胞的亚组比较显示心率变异性的显著差异，表明后代的遗传度较高。总之，在患者和亲属中观察到的自主神经功能障碍的模式可能表明潜在的疾病固有的遗传脆弱性，特别是因为自主神经参数是可遗传的。此外，这些发现可能有助于识别患者亲属中严重心血管事件的高危人群，以便早期采取预防措施。
Recent studies revealed cardiac autonomic dysfunction in patients with acute schizophrenia, which appears to be mainly related to reduced vagal and increased sympathetic modulation. To understand the significance of cardiac autonomic function in patients with schizophrenia, we extended these studies to relatives of patients. In this study, we assessed cardiac autonomic modulation in healthy first-degree relatives of patients with schizophrenia (n = 36) to investigate a putative genetic influence. Data were compared with control subjects matched for age, gender, and physical activity as well as to patients suffering from schizophrenia. First-degree relatives showed an attenuated, yet identical pattern in autonomic dysfunction as patients with decreased vagal modulation of heart rate, decreased baroreflex sensitivity, but no difference in blood pressure variability could be detected. The patients' relatives also showed a similar pattern in regards to QT variability. In addition, the subgroup comparison of offspring vs. siblings showed a significant difference in heart rate variability suggesting a higher degree of heritability in offspring. In conclusion, the pattern of autonomic dysfunction seen in patients and relatives might indicate underlying disease-inherent genetic vulnerability, especially because autonomic parameters are heritable. In addition, these findings may be of value to identify the high-risk group of patients' relatives in regards to serious cardiovascular events so that early preventive measures can be taken.