Gulf War Syndrome and HRV
The heart rate variability patterns of Gulf War Syndrome and Fibromyalgia Syndrome are identical. Both syndromes are related to altered autonomic nervous system function. Fibromyalgia and Gulf War Syndromes bear many symptomatic and objective similarities. Patients with Gulf War Syndrome are frequently diagnosed with fibromyalgia. The syndromes may in fact be indistinguishable and the result of a similar final common pathway of injury. There is increasing evidence that both are the result of injury to the central nervous system, particularly the autonomic nervous system. There has been no effective treatment for either syndrome.
In panel A the hourly parasympathetic activity of the HF Band is shown indicating failure to activate parasympathetic function from midnight to 5 AM (solid circles lower band).
In panel B the mean heart rate is depicted in symptomatic See Bees compared to non-symptomatic control See Bees indicating a higher mean heart rate at night in the patients with the Fibromyalgia Syndrome.
In panel C, the mean QTc interval is depicted. The symptomatic subjects have higher at almost every hour of the day reflecting sympathetic imbalance.
