Autonomic functions testing

Relevance. The ubiquitous nature of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system has allowed detailed tests in a variety of systems, including cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, urogenital, pupillary, sudomotor, and neuroendocrine. The most important characteristics of these tests are that they should be non-invasive, sensitive, specific, repeatable, quantitative, clinically useful and time-efficient. These tests were designed to investigate the possibility of autonomic failure, measure its severity, and assess its distribution. Clinical testing and research tests are the two main categories of these examinations. Cardiovagal, sudomotor and adrenergic autonomic functions are assessed by standard laboratory tests. The sweat test based on for measurement of the thermoregulation and the quantitative sudomotor axon reflex test (QSART) can be used to assess sudomotor function. Response of blood pressure and response of heart rate to Valsalva maneuver and head tilt are used to assess adrenal function, and extended hand grip tests are effective in determining the presence of autonomic failure, its natural history, and response to treatment. The Autonomic Function Test Battery is a set of tests for autonomous functioning. The Ewing battery is commonly used, which includes several parasympathetic and sympathetic tests. Conclusion. Autonomic function testing has a considerable amount of diagnostic importance, which can have preventive value due to a large number of mortality due to autonomic disorders.