[Autonomic disorders in polyneuropathies].

BACKGROUND

Many polyneuropathies manifest autonomic disturbances. Diabetic neuropathy, the most frequent neuropathy in the western world, serves as model of the symptomatology of autonomic disturbances.

DIABETIC NEUROPATHY

Clinical symptoms comprise pupillary and cardiovascular dysfunction such as orthostatic hypotonia and syncopes, thermoregulatory, gastrointestinal symptoms, disturbances in urogenital and respiratory function and unawareness of hypoglycemia.

OTHER NEUROPATHIES

This article also describes autonomic symptoms in alcoholic neuropathy, in Guillain-Barré syndrome, in paraneoplastic polyneuropathies, in toxic neuropathies, in acute and subacute autonomic neuropathy, in amyloidosis, in porphyria, in familiar dysautonomia, in HIV infection and in botulism.