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Baroreflex-sympathoneural without baroreflex-cardiovagal failure in neurogenic orthostatic hypotension

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Abstract

We describe a patient with neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (nOH) after brainstem neurosurgery in whom baroreflex-cardiovagal function was normal despite baroreflex-sympathoneural failure. We also cite other conditions entailing differential alterations in the two efferent limbs of the baroreflex. Any condition involving nOH from selective loss of sympathetic noradrenergic innervation, interference with sympathetic pre-ganglionic transmission in the thoracolumbar spinal cord, sympathectomies, or attenuated intra-neuronal synthesis, storage, or release of norepinephrine would be expected to manifest with selective baroreflex-sympathoneural dysfunction. We advise caution in relying on indices of baroreflex-cardiovagal function for diagnosing nOH, since normal values for these indices do not exclude nOH.

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The source data are available upon reasonable request as determined by the Corresponding Author.

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Acknowledgements

The research reported here was supported (in part) by the Division of Intramural Research, National Institutes of Health (NINDS). 

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Division of Intramural Research, NINDS, NIH.

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Correspondence to David S. Goldstein.

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Goldstein, D.S., Dill, S., Sullivan, P. et al. Baroreflex-sympathoneural without baroreflex-cardiovagal failure in neurogenic orthostatic hypotension. Clin Auton Res 33, 205–208 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10286-023-00935-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10286-023-00935-z

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