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Updated: Aug 12, 2026

Quantitative Autonomic Testing
Published on: July 19, 2011
Post-exertion dizziness as the sole presenting symptom of autonomic failure
G D Smith1, R Bannister, C J Mathias
1Department of Medicine, St Mary's Hospital Medical School, Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London.
Abstract:
An otherwise fit young man, leading an active life, whose only complaint at presentation was dizziness after extreme exertion is described. He was found later to have postural and exercise induced hypotension. Subsequently, he developed typical symptoms of autonomic failure, with postural dizziness, urinary abnormalities, and erectile failure. Progression of autonomic failure was documented on testing. A fall in blood pressure during or after exercise has been reported previously in pure autonomic failure, but a presentation with exercise induced symptoms alone is unusual.
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