Alterations of autonomic nervous control of cardiac function have been described in syndrome X. The characteristics, however, of the autonomic control of the cardiovascular system in patients with syndrome X have not been adequately studied; thus, the aim of the present study was to investigate the role of baroreceptor sensitivity and sympathovagal balance in syndrome X. The study group included 12 patients with syndrome X, 12 age- and sex-matched control patients with coronary artery disease, and 12 age- and sex-matched controls with no evidence of heart disease. Baroreceptor sensitivity was evaluated by calculating the regression line relating phenylephrine-induced increases in systolic blood pressure to the attendant changes in the RR interval. Sympathovagal balance was assessed by using heart rate variability in the time and frequency domain and measuring plasma norepinephrine at rest and during incremental bicycle exercise. Baroreceptor sensitivity was significantly reduced in syndrome X compared with that in control normal subjects (7.4 +/- 1.2 vs 16.8 +/- 2.3 ms/mm Hg; p < 0.02). This was associated with a significantly lower percentage of adjacent normal RR intervals that differ by >50 ms, lower root-mean-square of the difference of adjacent RR intervals, and lower logarithmic value of the high-frequency component in patients with syndrome X compared with normal subjects. A nonsignificant trend toward lower baroreceptor sensitivity was found in patients with syndrome X compared with control ischemic patients (7.4 +/- 2 vs 12.2 +/- 1.3 ms/mm Hg). A nonsignificant trend toward a higher value of the low- to high-frequency ratio was also observed in patients with syndrome X than in both control groups. No difference was detected in norepinephrine levels either at rest or during exercise or in the exercise-induced norepinephrine increase between the 3 groups. No difference was also observed between ischemic patients and normal subjects in either baroreceptor sensitivity or heart rate variability measurements. A significant correlation (r = 0.80, p < 0.01) was found between baroreceptor sensitivity and the high-frequency component in normal controls but not for other measurements of autonomic function in the 3 groups. In conclusion, patients with syndrome X have an altered autonomic control of the cardiovascular system characterized by impaired baroreceptor sensitivity and reduced heart rate variability. Abnormal autonomic regulation of the cardiovascular system may be of pathophysiologic importance in syndrome X.