Autonomic cardiovascular reflexes in Wilson's disease

Clin Auton Res. 2002 Jun;12(3):190-2. doi: 10.1007/s10286-002-0017-y.

Abstract

We studied autonomic cardiovascular function in fourteen patients with Wilson's disease. Four had abnormalities on autonomic testing and, of these, three had evidence of severe central nervous system abnormalities. In contrast, of the remaining ten patients with normal cardiovascular reflexes, only two had severe deficits of the central nervous system. We suggest that autonomic impairment in Wilson's disease is due to involvement of central autonomic neurons.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Autonomic Nervous System / physiopathology*
  • Basal Ganglia / metabolism
  • Basal Ganglia / pathology
  • Cardiovascular System / innervation*
  • Copper / metabolism
  • Female
  • Hepatolenticular Degeneration / diagnosis
  • Hepatolenticular Degeneration / physiopathology*
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Reflex / physiology*

Substances

  • Copper