• Citer

Electrophysiology of the normal sinus node

par De Marneffe, Michel ;Waterschoot, Patrick ;Melot, Christian ;Englert, Marc
Référence Journal of Electrophysiology, 2, 2, page (155-174)
Publication Publié, 1988

Article révisé par les pairs

• Détails
• Contenu

Résumé :

Electrophysiologic studies of sinus node function were performed in 61 patients without organic heart disease and with a wide range of ages. All had normal extrinsic and intrinsic electrophysiologic parameters of sinus node function. The electrophysiologic study of the sinus node function was performed four times: at basal state, under sympathetic blockade, under parasympathetic blockade, and after autonomic blockade. All the electrophysiologic variables of the intrinsic sinus node function lengthen progressively with age, showing an aging of the intrinsic sinus node throughout life. Furthermore, the respective effects of the two components of the autonomic nervous system differ significantly according to age: vagal tone predominates in young people and decreases with increasing age; sympathetic activity increases with increasing age and becomes most prominent in the elderly. The normal sinus node function represents an equilibrated system. In parallel with aging of the intrinsic properties of the sinus node, vagal tone decreases and sympathetic activity increases in such a way that the basal properties remain stable throughout life.