title: Diagnosis and management of autonomic failure in neurodegenerative disorders.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  One of the hallmarks of the α-synucleinopathies is the degeneration of the autonomic nervous system.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This review discusses the diagnosis and management of cardiovascular autonomic failure within the context of the α-synucleinopathies. In addition, it outlines the utility of various laboratory assessments including cardiovascular reflex tests for the differential diagnoses of these disorders, as well as general disease management strategies. Key Messages: Laboratory investigations assessing the autonomic control of the cardiovascular system are useful in the differential diagnosis of α-synucleinopathies, especially in early stages of disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The characterization of the different features of AF in patients with α-synucleinopathies is challenging because it might help to improve the accuracy of the differential diagnosis between these diseases at onset. Further cardiovascular AF has been demonstrated to have a negative prognostic role in α-synucleinopathies, therefore an early detection of cardiovascular dysautonomia allows to positively impact the disease course guiding the appropriate therapy.
authors.affiliation: IRCCS Institute of Neurological Sciences of Bologna, University of Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sambati
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Calandra-Buonaura
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Doria
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cortelli
mesh_terms: D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*