Correlation between autonomic dysfunction and impaired microcirculation in patients with schizophrenia

Patients suffering from schizophrenia have an increased mortality risk due to cardiovascular events that might be associated with cardiac autonomic dysfunction. The aim of this study was to analyse the interdependencies between indices of autonomic regulation from heart rate and blood pressure variability, and spectral indices of Laser-Doppler-Flowmetry signals, reflecting the condition of the microcirculatory system. Therefore, we compared the correlation between indices in controls with indices in schizophrenic patients. We found that short term interaction between autonomic regulation and microcirculation decreases in schizophrenic patients compared to healthy controls while the permanently increased heart rate in patients is highly correlated with a periphery endothelial and sympathetic activation.