[Orthostatic hypotension]

The practicing physician commonly encounters patients with hypotensive disturbances of orthostatic blood pressure regulation. These include the functional orthostatic syndrome as well as the true forms of orthostatic hypotension due to hypovolemia, certain cardiac, pulmonary or endocrine diseases, or (particularly in the elderly) autonomic dysfunction of varying etiology. The possible pathogenetic mechanisms are also many and varied, while various drugs may play a causative or contributory role. Careful evaluation and treatment with general measures and, if indicated, pharmacologic agents may (even in the presence of severe neurogenic orthostatic hypotension) often lead to marked improvement in blood pressure and in quality of life.