Table 2.
Results of standardized autonomic testing, thermoregulatory sweat test, plasma norepinephrine and 24-hour blood pressure monitoring in patients with radiation-induced afferent baroreflex failure
| Autonomic reflex screen, N (%) | 90 (100) |
| CASS sudomotor, median [Q1 – Q3] | 0 [0 – 1] |
| CASS cardiovagal, median [Q1 – Q3] | 2 [2 – 3] |
| CASS adrenergic, median [Q1 – Q3] | 4 [4 – 4] |
| CASS total, median [Q1 – Q3] | 7 [6 – 7] |
| Abnormal HRDB compared to normative values, N (%) | 70/88 (79.5) |
| Abnormal VR compared to normative values, N (%) | 75/86 (87.2) |
| Abnormal BRS-V compared to normative values, N (%) | 44/76 (57.9) |
| PRT (sec), median [Q1 – Q3] | 17.4 [9.9 – 26.2] |
| Supine SBP (mmHg), median [Q1 – Q3] | 144 [130 – 168] |
| Supine DBP (mmHg), median [Q1 – Q3] | 80 [74 – 89.5] |
| OH, N (%) | 68 (75.6) |
| ΔSBP 3min (mmHg), median [Q1 – Q3] | −60 [−80 – −54] |
| ΔSBP 5min (mmHg), median [Q1 – Q3] | −38 [−62 – −19] |
| ΔHR 3min (bpm), median [Q1 – Q3] | +10 [+4 – +12] |
| ΔHR 5min (bpm), median [Q1 – Q3] | +7 [+3 – +12.5] |
| Thermoregulatory sweat test, N (%) | 38 (42.2) |
| Percentage of anhidrosis, N (%) | |
| 0% | 2 (5.3) |
| 1 – 25% | 24 (63.1) |
| 25 – 50% | 7 (18.4) |
| 50 – 75% | 3 (7.9) |
| > 75% | 2 (5.3) |
| Plasma NE, N (%) | 19 (21.1) |
| Plasma supine NE (pg/mL), mean (SD) | 722 (643) |
| Plasma standing NE (pg/mL), mean (SD) | 1207 (1239) |
| 24-hour blood pressure monitoring, N (%) | 76 (84.5) |
| Hypertension, N (%) | 63 (70.0) |
| Postural hypotension, N (%) | 54 (60.0) |
| Hypertensive surge, N (%) | 50 (55.6) |
| Number of surges, median [Q1 – Q3] | 1 [0–2] |
| Minimal SBP during the day (mmHg), median [Q1 – Q3] | 80 [71 – 89] |
| Maximal SBP during the day (mmHg), median [Q1 – Q3] | 184 [174 – 201] |
| SD of SBP during activity (mmHg), median [Q1 – Q3] | 23 [20 – 28] |
| SD of SBP during sleep (mmHg), median [Q1 – Q3] | 16 [14 – 24] |
| SD of SBP total (mmHg), median [Q1 – Q3] | 22 [20 – 29] |
| Loss of BP dipping at night, N (%) | 39 (43.3) |
Abbreviations: bpm = beats per minute, BP = blood pressure, BRS-V = baroreflex cardiovagal sensitivity, CASS = Composite Autonomic Scoring Scale, DBP = diastolic blood pressure; HR = heart rate, HRDB = heart rate responses to deep breathing, NE = norepinephrine, OH = orthostatic hypotension, PRT = blood pressure recovery time, Q1 = first quartile, Q3 = third quartile, SBP = systolic blood pressure, SD = standard deviation, VR = Valsalva ratio