[Acute autonomic neuropathy and the other related diseases]

In 1969, Young et al. described a patient with an acquired, pure pan-dysautonomia of unknown etiology, involving both the sympathetic and the parasympathetic nervous systems without other neurological manifestations. Since then, a number of similar cases have been described. More recently, reports have appeared of predominantly cholinergic dysautonomia, of dysautonomia associated with infection, and of dysautonomia with other impairment of nervous function. As an etiology, immunological disorder has been suggested but the precise mechanism has not been clarified. By accumulating more cases, a more accurate etiology and more satisfactory therapy will be developed.