Background: Association of increased cardiovascular morbidity and higher sympathetic activity in patients with Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been well recognized. Objective: To assess sympathetic nerve function status in Rheumatoid arthritis patients and its relationship to duration of the disease. Methods: This study was carried out in the dept of Physiology Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka during 2010.Sixty female RA patients aged 18-50 years with duration of disease from 1 to 10 years was selected from Rheumatology wing of Medicine OPD of BSMMU. Age and BMI matched female apparently healthy subjects were control. Sympathetic nerve function status was assessed by blood pressure response to orthostatic test and sustained hand grip isometric exercise test. In these two tests, fall in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and rise in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) respectively estimates sympathetic reactivity. For statistical analysis, unpaired students t test and pearsons correlation coefficient test was applied. Results: Mean values of fall of SBP was higher and rise of DBP was lower in RA patients compared to control which was statistically (P<0.001) significant. Again rise of DBP was negatively and fall of SBP was positively correlated with duration of the disease and the relationships were statistically highly significant (p<0.01). Conclusion: The results conclude that sympathetic reflex response was reduced in RA which was deteriorated with duration of disease.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2025 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.