[Routine diagnosis of disorders of autonomic regulation. References for implementation and evaluation]

In the routine diagnosis evaluation of regulatory disorders of the autonomous nervous system, 5 non-invasive procedures have proved both easy to perform and valid: orthostatic and static blood pressure reactions, the ratio of the 30th to the 15th RR interval on changing to an erect posture, variations in the heart rate in response to the Valsalva maneuver and deep respiration. These measures need no special equipment and can be carried out at any hospital or outpatient department. They provide not only qualitative but, in part, also quantitative information about possible disorders of the autonomic nervous system, as well as permitting a certain differentiation to be made between parasympathetic and sympathetic regulation. More complex tests should be employed only for specific problems.