Abstract
The autonomic nervous system (ANS) controls the synergistic action of all visceral organs in the human body (Lahrmann et al. 2011). Autonomic nervous system diseases lead to dysfunction of blood pressure, heart rate, sudomotor function, digestion, urinary function, and sexual function. ANS dysfunction may originate in the CNS or PNS and may be widespread or focal. Despite the complex distribution of the ANS and the variable consequences of ANS dysfunction, the aim of investigating the ANS is to transform the clinical picture into a coherent explanation of the patient’s autonomic problem. More precisely, the aim should be to define the functional and autonomic involvement (sympathetic, parasympathetic, central, or peripheral disease), identify a common autonomic syndrome (orthostatic hypotension, autonomic neuropathy, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, reflex syncope), and treat treatable diseases. To achieve this aim, a comprehensive history, appropriate autonomic tests, and laboratory tests are necessary.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Assessment: clinical autonomic testing report of the Therapeutics and Technology Assessment Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology (1996) Neurology 46(3):873–880
Grubb BP (2008) Postural tachycardia syndrome. Circulation 117(21):2814–2817
Lahrmann H, Cortelli P, Hilz M, Mathias CJ, Struhal W, Tassinari M (2006) EFNS guidelines on the diagnosis and management of orthostatic hypotension. Eur J Neurol 13(9):930–936
Lahrmann H, Rocha I, Struhal W, Thijs RD, Hilz MJ (2011) Diagnosing autonomic nervous system disorders – existing guidelines and future perspectives. Eur Neurolog Rev 6(1):52–56
Low PA, Benarroch EE (2008) Clinical autonomic disorders, 3rd edn. Wolter Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia
Zilliox L, Peltier AC, Wren PA, Anderson A, Smith AG, Singleton JR et al (2011) Assessing autonomic dysfunction in early diabetic neuropathy: the Survey of Autonomic Symptoms. Neurology 76(12):1099–1105
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2014 Springer-Verlag Wien
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Struhal, W., Russell, J.W. (2014). Autonomic Nervous System. In: Atlas of Neuromuscular Diseases. Springer, Vienna. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-1605-0_13
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-7091-1605-0_13
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Vienna
Print ISBN: 978-3-7091-1604-3
Online ISBN: 978-3-7091-1605-0
eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)