Impaired baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) calculated by vasoactive pharmacological methods may be a predictor of sudden death after myocardial infarction.Vasoactive pharmacological methods and non-pharmacological BRS assessment methods have not been systematically correlated.Objective: To compare BRS methods; cross spectral analysis (CSA) of spontaneous systolic pressure values and RR interval times with Phenylephrine (PHE) and Nitroprusside (NTP) methods.Methods: In 12 healthy subjects, continuous ECG, heart rate and non-invasive blood pressure (Finapres, Ohmeda 2300, Inc.USA) signals were registered.BRS (ms/mmHg) was calculated (CAFTS, Medikro, Oy.Finland) after intravenous bolus of PHE 150 /.tg and NTP 100 /zg.CSA variables (Cardiopulmonary Research Software, Finland) at rest (5 minutes) were analyzed: 1) Spontaneous BRS with coherence and phase (BRScp-ms/mmHg), oe index in the low frequency band (c~LF, ms/mmHg), and co-index in the high frequency band (c~HF, ms/mmHg) values are mean + SD.Results-BRS-PHE: 19 + 0.8 ms/mmHg, BRS-NTP: 17 -+ 0.6 ms/mmHg, BRScp 19 + 0.9 ms/mmHg, oeLF 21 + 0.8 ms/mmHg, c~HF 39 + 2.3 ms/mmHg.A high correlation was found between BRS-PHE/BRScp (r = 0.7) and BRS-PHE/c~LF (r = 0.78).Condusiem CSA of resting RR intervals and systolic blood pressure is a useful method for assessment of baroreflex gain.A high correlation between BRS-PHE with ~e LF indicate that these methods may be interchangeable.