Heart Rhythm Variability in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Results.The mean values of PNN50, SDANN, SDNN and rMSSD in children with DAS28 < 5.1 were higher compared to children with DAS28>5.1.The mean value of PNN50, SDANN, SDNN and rMSSD was without any statistical differences in children with disease duration of more than 24 months and of less than 24 months (p>0.05).Statistically significant differences were observed in the heart rate variability (HRV) in children on glucocorticosteroids.A considerable decrease in HRV parameters was reported in patients receiving methotrexate (MTX) compared to patients not receiving MTX (p<0.001).Conclusions.CIG revealed sympathotonia more frequently than eutonia.Hypersympathetic autonomic reactivity was found more frequently.The decrease in HRV indices was due to the disease duration and disease activity, as well as glucocorticosteroids and MTX.