Clinical aspects of autonomic nerve dysfunction of the gut

Autonomic dysfunction leads to a variety of clinical disorders involving all parts of the gut. These neural disorders are distinct from the four other recognised categories of disorders involving myogenic function, myoelectric activity, hormonal regulation and abnormal humoral factors. Criteria for establishing that a disorder has a neurogenic aetiology vary in different diseases. Absence of a neural mediated response with intact muscle function has been the major criterion used in most studies. Neural mediated responses of peristalsis, sphincteric relaxation and intestinal contraction following distension or feeding are the major parameters of assessment. Abnormalities in neural function have been demonstrated in achalasia, symptomatic diffuse oesophageal spasm, diabetes mellitus, amyloidosis, scleroderma and chronic idiopathic intestinal pseudoobstruction. The anatomical site and type of gut neurological disorder varies in each condition. Morphological studies have been helpful in demonstrating specific intranuclear inclusion bodies in some pseudoobstruction patients, and vagal and ganglionic lesions in achalasia. Intact muscle ad myoelectric function as well as normal responsiveness to drugs acting directly upon muscle may be established by morphological study. Advancement in basic technology should provide a rewarding area for future study of the pathogenesis and treatment of the gut neurological disorders.