title: Autonomic nervous system evaluation of patients with vasomotor rhinitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To demonstrate the utility of quantitative neurological laboratory testing of autonomic nervous system dysfunction and to apply this methodology to further study the relation of chronic vasomotor (nonallergic) rhinitis to the autonomic nervous system.
  
  
  METHODS
  It has been suspected that vasomotor rhinitis is due either to a hyperactive parasympathetic nervous system or an imbalance between it and the sympathetic nervous system. The exact relation has not been determined. Recently neurological laboratories have been developed in which a battery of tests can be performed to determine reactivity of the autonomic nervous system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Autonomic nervous system testing was performed on 19 patients with symptoms fulfilling the diagnostic criteria for vasomotor rhinitis and the results were compared with 75 sex- and age-matched control subjects. Patients with vasomotor rhinitis had significant abnormalities of their sudomotor, cardiovagal, and adrenergic subscores. Their composite autonomic scale score was significantly impaired at 2.43, as compared with 0.11 for controls (P < .005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Autonomic nervous system dysfunction is significant in patients with vasomotor rhinitis. Possible factors that trigger this dysfunction including nasal trauma and extraesophageal manifestations of gastroesophageal reflux are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, The Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53226-9796, USA.
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Jaradeh
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Torrico
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Prieto
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Loehrl
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Darling
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Toohill
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012223:Rhinitis, Vasomotor / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*