Autonomic Dysfunction in Parkinson's Disease: Cardiovascular Symptoms, Thermoregulation, and Urogenital Symptoms

Parkinson's disease is characterized by motor, autonomic, and neuropsychiatric symptoms. These occur in varying degrees in all stages of the disease. Among the autonomic disorders, cardiovascular, urogenital, gastrointestinal, and thermoregulatory disorders are particularly relevant. Because of the significant impact on the quality of life, appropriate diagnostics and therapy should be carried out at all stages of the disease. Within cardiovascular disorders drop of blood pressure after orthostasis and nondipper behavior are very important, but also the influence of cardiovascular medication. Nocturnal sweating is the most common problem of thermoregulation disturbances, for which there is no satisfactory therapy. Urgency, nocturia, and incontinence are of particular note within the urological problems.