title: Autonomic dysfunction in patients with progressive supranuclear palsy.
abstract: The most important features that characterize and differentiate progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) from other parkinsonian syndromes are postural instability, supranuclear gaze palsy, pseudobulbar palsy, and cognitive disturbances. Although it has been reported that significant autonomic dysfunction is an exclusionary feature for PSP diagnosis, we could demonstrate in this study using semiquantitative clinical interview and cardiovascular testing that both PSP and idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) patients can present with significant autonomic dysfunction. The parasympathetic cardiovascular system seems to be involved to a similar extent in PD and PSP patients, whereas sympathetic cardiovascular dysfunction is more frequent and severe in PD patients, but can also be found in PSP patients. Our findings have a profound implication on the diagnosis and treatment of PSP patients.
authors.affiliation: Autonomic and Neuroendocrinological Laboratory (ANF), University Clinic Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden University of Technology, Germany.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Birgit
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Herting
authors.forename: Silke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Prieur
authors.forename: Susann
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Junghanns
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schweitzer
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Reichmann
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.forename: Tjalf
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ziemssen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000150:complications; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013494:Supranuclear Palsy, Progressive / Q000150:complications*