Autonomic neuropathy

Abstract

Autonomic neuropathies are a group of disorders in which small, lightly myelinated and unmyelinated autonomic nerve fibres are selectively targeted. They include autonomic neuropathies associated with diabetes, amyloid and immune-mediated autonomic neuropathies. Predominant symptoms of autonomic neuropathy are orthostatic hypotension, gastro-intestinal problems, urogenital dysfunction, and cardiac arrhythmia, all of which can severely impair the quality of life in affected patients. Peripheral autoimmune autonomic disorders include autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy (AAG) and acute autonomic and sensory neuropathy. An antibody targeting the ganglionic nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (gAChR) is detected in approximately 50% of AAG patients. Treatment aims to control the specific cause of the autonomic neuropathy and the symptoms of autonomic dysfunction.