Decoding Autoimmune Autonomic Disorders: A Less-Recognized Overlap

• Published in: Annals of the Indian Academy of Neurology Vol. 27; no. 5; pp. 482 - 492
• Main Authors: Mohapatra, Prachi, Agarwal, Ayush, Radhakrishnan, Divya M, Srivastava, Achal Kumar, Garg, Divyani
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: India Medknow Publications and Media Pvt. Ltd 01.09.2024; Medknow Publications & Media Pvt. Ltd; Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
• Subjects: Autoantibodies; autoimmune; Autoimmune diseases; Autoimmunity; autonomic failure; Autonomic nervous system; Autonomic neuropathies; Care and treatment; Diagnosis; ganglionopathy; Health aspects; Hyperactivity; Immune response; pots; India
• ISSN: 0972-2327; 1998-3549; 1998-3549
• DOI: 10.4103/aian.aian_394_24

Autoimmune autonomic disorders encompass a spectrum of disorders mediated by immune responses directed against the autonomic nervous system, including the peripheral and central autonomic pathways. While centrally mediated autoimmune autonomic disorders primarily can cause autonomic hyperactivity, peripherally mediated disorders are more common and can cause either locally confined or global autonomic failure. These disorders are often underrecognized owing to vague and varied clinical signs and symptoms. The discovery of specific autoantibodies in the past decade has caused a growing recognition of autoimmune causes for these disorders. The management is also complex, as these disorders often manifest with generalized symptoms, are difficult to diagnose, invoke challenges involving robust establishment of an autoimmune syndrome, and are rare. This article presents an overview of autonomic disorders that have a suspected autoimmune etiology, as well as recent advancements in their diagnosis and management.