AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM UNIT

 

 

Brief history of the Group

The Centro de Estudos da Funcao Autonómica (CEFA) has its origins in 1995 with a background at Centro de Estudos de Paramiloidose (CEP) on studies on autonomic and cardiovascular repercussion of familial amyloidotic neuropathy (FAP), and hereditary autossomic amyloidosis described by the eminent neurologist Corino de Andrade. CEFA is devoted to clinical and laboratorial investigation on FAP and in patients with ortosthatic intolerance on physiological, pharmacological and biochemical aspects of autonomic nervous system at cardiovascular level.

Overall Objectives

The group main objectives are the identification and characterization of physiopathological mechanisms of autonomic dysfunction in FAP and orthostatic syndromes. The technologies developed for this purpose are used in other autonomic nervous disorders and in research of human physiology of autonomic nervous system (ANS).

Specific Objectives

1- Evaluation of ANS in FAP before and after liver transplantation.

2 - Study of cyclosporine on ANS and blood pressure.

3 - Accessing of sensitivity, specificity and predictive value of several ANS indexes, including HRV, SBPV, QT dispersion and baroreflex gain in patients with autonomic dysfunction.

4 - Accessing epidemiological, clinical and autonomic disturbances in patients with orthostatic intolerance (NCS, POTS, OH).

5 - Accessing the role of ANS on several drugs.

Colaboration with other Units

The Unit collaborates regularly with others Units that focus also in FAP, namely the IBMC Amyloid Unit in aspects related to biochemical aspects of ANS disfuntion and with the group of Applied Matthematics of UP in software development, and Oporto MedicalSports Center.

Unit Coordinator: A. Falcão de Freitas, M.D. Ph.D.

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