title: Evaluation of the autonomic nervous system.
abstract: This article has reviewed the laboratory evaluation of autonomic disorders. Autonomic testing can be divided into the assessment of three functional domains: sudomotor (assessed best by the thermoregulatory sweat test or QSART), cardiovagal (assessed by the Valsalva ratio and heart rate response to deep breathing or standing up), and adrenergic (assessed by the blood pressure response to the Valsalva maneuver or head-upright tilt). Tables 2 and 3 summarize the test findings in a variety of clinical disorders affecting autonomic nervous system function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Froedtert West Hospital, 9200 West Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA. jaradeh@mcw.edu
authors.forename: Safwan S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Jaradeh
authors.forename: Thomas E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Prieto
mesh_terms: D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001794:Blood Pressure; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D013696:Temperature; D018667:Tilt-Table Test; D014636:Valsalva Maneuver