Last update:
   21-Jan-2019
 

Arch Hellen Med, 36(1), January-February 2019, 56-63

REVIEW

Acute stroke and disorders of the autonomic nervous system

I.A. Tzanos,1 K. Gioti,2 P. Kokotis3
1Department of Rehabilitation, University General Hospital of Patra, Patra,
2First Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Rehabilitation Center, Ilion,
3First Department of Neurology, "Eginitio" Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece

Autonomic dysfunction, which typically presents with a predominance of sympathetic activity, is common after acute stroke. This is a review of the methods used to assess autonomic dysfunction in patients who have suffered stroke. It demonstrates a possible correlation between autonomic dysfunction and a variety of factors that have been associated with a worse outcome of stroke, including heart arrhythmia, variability in blood pressure, hyperglycemia, immunosuppression, breathing disorders during sleep, thrombotic events, malignant edema, and other clinical syndromes. The insular cortex is thought to exert a significant effect in sympathovagal imbalance, but its precise role is still undefined.

Key words: Autonomic nervous system, Heart rate variability, Insular cortex, Norepinephrine, Stroke.

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