Rehabilitation and Therapy Commons^™

Baroreflex Sensitivity In Facioscapulohumeral Muscular Dystrophy, Miguel Anselmo, Shandon Coffman, Mia Larson, Kathryn Vera, Emma Lee, Mary Mcconville, Michael Kyba, Manda L Keller-Ross

Department of Medicine Faculty Papers

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), a common form of muscular dystrophy, is caused by a genetic mutation that alters DUX4 gene expression. This mutation contributes to significant skeletal muscle loss. Although it is suggested that cardiac muscle may be spared, people with FSHD have demonstrated autonomic dysregulation. It is unknown if baroreflex function, an important regulator of blood pressure (BP), is impaired in people with FSHD. We examined if baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) is blunted in patients with FSHD. Thirty minutes of resting BP, heart rate, and cardiovagal BRS were measured in 13 patients with FSHD (age: 50 ± 13 years, avg …