Autonomic dysfunction in Parkinson's disease

Abstract

Growing recognition of the non-motor features of Parkinson’s disease (PD) has led to increased awareness of autonomic dysfunction as part of the disease process, not only in advanced disease but also early in its course, sometimes even preceding the development of the classic motor features of PD. Virtually all aspects of autonomic function can become impaired in PD, including cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, urological, sexual and thermoregulatory function. Recognition of the various autonomic abnormalities of PD is important because effective treatment may be available and may measurably improve quality of life for individuals with PD.

Keywords::

• autonomic
• botulinum toxin
• cardiovascular
• enteric
• gastrointestinal
• Parkinson’s disease
• thermoregulatory
• urinary

Financial & competing interests disclosure

RF Pfeiffer has received royalties (for books edited) from CRC Press (Taylor & Francis) and Humana Press; honoraria (for lectures) from Teva; honoraria (for consulting) from UCB; research grants/contracts from Boehringer-Ingelheim, UCB/Schwarz and Phytopharm; and legal consulting fees from Tucker Ellis & West; Thomas, Thomas & Hafer; Journal Editor – Parkinsonism and Related Disorders (Elsevier). The author has no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.