The Shy-Drager syndrome.

The association of orthostatic hypotension with signs of progressive neuronal degeneration of the central nervous system particularly affecting the autonomic nervous system is known as the Shy-Drager syndrome. The pathological hallmark of the disease is cell loss in the intermediolateral column of the spinal cord, which is responsible for the major element in the autonomic failure. There is also evidence that widespread involvement of the dopaminergic system may be responsible for the autonomic as well as the parkinsonian features encountered.