Affiliations: Sickle Cell Unit, Tropical Medicine Research Institute, University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies | Inserm U665, Pointe-à-Pitre, Université des Antilles et de la Guyane, Guadeloupe | Laboratory ACTES-EA3596, Department of Physiology, Université des Antilles et de la Guyane, Guadeloupe | Department of Basic Medical Sciences (Physiology Section), Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston, Jamaica, West Indies | Université Paris 13, Laboratoire « Réponses cellulaires et fonctionnelles à l'hypoxie » EA2363, STAPS, Bobigny, France | Laboratory SNA-EPIS, PRES Lyon, Université de Saint-Etienne, France | CAREST (CAribbean network of REsearchers on Sickle cell disease and Thalassemia)
Note: [] Corresponding author: Philippe Connes, Inserm U665, Pointe-à-Pitre, F-97159 Guadeloupe, Université des Antilles et de la Guyane, F-97157, Guadeloupe. Tel.: +590 690 36 76 28; E-mail: pconnes@yahoo.fr
Abstract: The present study evaluated the relationship between acute chest syndrome (ACS) and autonomic nervous system (ANS) activity in patients with hemoglobin SS disease (Hb SS). Nine patients had suffered ACS were matched by age and gender to patients who had not suffered ACS and ANS activity, pulmonary function and history of painful crisis were compared. Correlations between number of episodes of ACS suffered and these variables were determined. The results demonstrated that 1) patients with a history of ACS ever had lower parasympathetic nervous system (PNS) activity and lower global ANS activity than patients with no ACS ever (p < 0.05), 2) the number of ACS episodes ever negatively correlated (p < 0.05) with PNS activity and global ANS activity and 3) There were no significant associations between lung function or a history of painful crisis in these patients. In conclusion, a history of ACS was associated with ANS dysfunction in adults with Hb SS disease.
