Full Title: Elevated Nocturnal Blood Pressure and Heart Rate in Adolescent Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
Authors: Hurum H, Sulheim D, Thaulow E, Wyller VB.
Publication: Acta Paediatrica
Publication Date: 9th November 2010
Division of Paediatrics, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway Department of Pediatrics, Østfold Hospital, Fredrikstad, Norway Department of Pediatrics, Innlandet Hospital, Lillehammer, Norway.
Aim
To compare ambulatory recordings of heart rate and blood pressure in adolescents with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) and healthy controls. We hypothesized both heart rate and blood pressure to be elevated among CFS patients.
Methods
44 CFS patients aged 12-18 years were recruited from our paediatric outpatient clinic. The controls were 52 healthy adolescents having similar distribution of age and gender. 24-hours ambulatory blood pressure and heart rate was recorded using a validated, portable oscillometric device.
Results
At night (sleep), heart rate, mean arterial blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure were significantly higher in CFS patients as compared to controls (p < 0.01). During daytime, heart rate was significantly higher among CFS patients (p < 0.05), whereas blood pressures were equal among the two groups.
Conclusion
The findings support previous experimental evidence of sympathetic predominance of cardiovascular control in adolescent CFS patients. Also, the findings prompt increased focus on cardiovascular risk assessment, and suggest a possible target for therapeutic intervention.
PMID: 21059182
