Factor analysis of abnormal postural change cardiovascular autonomic indices within pSS patients

RR intervals, low frequency RR power (HRV), proportion of successive RR intervals differing by more than 50 ms (pNN50), change in systolic blood pressure on standing (ΔSBP), low frequency systolic blood pressure power (BPV) and the 30/15 ratio were all decreased in patients who have primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) relative to control individuals on standing. Three-dimensional scatterplot of rotated (varimax normalized) factor loadings. Factor 1 had the highest loadings for HRV, pNN50 and the 30/15 RR ratio. Factor 2 had the highest loadings for ΔSBP and BPV. Factor 3 had the highest loading for RR intervals during standing. Scatterplot of the HRV factor 1 scores for each pSS patient by the presence of Raynaud's phenomenon. The horizontal bars represent mean scores for each group. Factor 1 scores were significantly lower (more abnormal) in patients without Raynaud's (= 0.025). Scatterplot of the HRV factor 1 scores (y-axis) versus COMPASS factor 1 scores (x-axis) for each pSS patient. There was a negative correlation that did not quite reach statistical significance (= 0.08).<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Mild autonomic dysfunction in primary Sjögren's syndrome: a controlled study"</p><p>http://arthritis-research.com/content/10/2/R31</p><p>Arthritis Research & Therapy 2008;10(2):R31-R31.</p><p>Published online 7 Mar 2008</p><p>PMCID:PMC2453776.</p><p></p

Factor analysis of COMPASS autonomic symptom scale scores within pSS patients

Scatterplot of rotated (varimax normalized) COMPASS subscale factor loadings for factor 1 (24% of total variance) and factor 2 (15% of total variance), both with appreciable loadings for the secretomotor subscale. Factor 1 had the highest loadings for secretomotor, orthostatic, gastroparesis, constipation and bladder subscales, which is indicative of a substantial clustering of these symptoms within patients who have primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS). The highest loadings for factor 2 were observed with both the secretomotor and pupillomotor subscales. Scatterplot of the COMPASS factor 1 scores for each pSS patient by results of the contemporaneous 15-minute unstimulated salivary flow test. The horizontal bars represent mean scores for each group. Factor 1 scores were significantly higher in patients with this objective measure of dryness (= 0.025), whereas factor 2 scores were not (= 0.40; data not shown). Scatterplot of the COMPASS factor 1 scores for each pSS patient by the FACIT-F scores. Factor 1 scores were significantly correlated with fatigue scores (= 0.035), whereas factor 2 scores were not (= 0.18; data not shown). COMPASS, Composite Autonomic Symptom Scale; FACIT-F, Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue.<p><b>Copyright information:</b></p><p>Taken from "Mild autonomic dysfunction in primary Sjögren's syndrome: a controlled study"</p><p>http://arthritis-research.com/content/10/2/R31</p><p>Arthritis Research & Therapy 2008;10(2):R31-R31.</p><p>Published online 7 Mar 2008</p><p>PMCID:PMC2453776.</p><p></p