Autonomic disorders in polyneuropathies

BACKGROUND: Many polyneuropathies manifest autonomic disturbances. Diabetic neuropathy, the most frequent neuropathy in the western world, serves as model of the symptomatology of autonomic disturbances. DIABETIC NEUROPATHY: Clinical symptoms comprise pupillary and cardiovascular dysfunction such as orthostatic hypotonia and syncopes, thermoregulatory, gastrointestinal symptoms, disturbances in urogenital and respiratory function and unawareness of hypoglycemia. OTHER NEUROPATHIES: This article also describes autonomic symptoms in alcoholic neuropathy, in Guillain-Barre syndrome, in paraneoplastic polyneuropathies, in toxic neuropathies, in acute and subacute autonomic neuropathy, in amyloidosis, in porphyria, in familiar dysautonomia, in HIV infection and in botulism.