Gustatory Sweating and Flushing: Aetiological Implications of Response of Separate Sweat Glands to Various Stimulli

Abstract

Patients with imminent and patients with manifest gustatory sweating and flushing (G.S.F.) after parotidectomy were subjected to gustatory, exogenus cholinergic and indirect thermal stimulation and the reponses of their temporal and preauricular sweat glands were studied. Before onset of G.S.F., the sweat glands in demarcated areas did not respond to any of these stimulations. After onset of G.S.F., sweat glands in the affected area responded markedly to exogenous cholinergic stimulation and generally not to indirect thermal stimulation.

In the light of these observations the aetiology of G.S.F. is discussed, the conclusion being that the syndrome is due to misdirected regeneration of salivary cholinergic fibres to the sweat glands and dermal vessels.