Autonomic Laboratory

Assesses the nervous system control of automatic functions of the body, which includes blood pressure, heart rate, digestion, sweating and sexual function.

Autonomic testing may be appropriate for the assessment of patients with unexplained dizziness / fainting, excessive sweating / heat intolerance, fluctuating or abnormal blood pressure or heart rate, bowel / bladder dysfunction and nerve (neuropathic) pain. Baseline and prognostic assessments may also be indicated for a number of conditions including metabolic disorders, autoimmune diseases, neuropathies, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), also known as Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy as well as generalized and inherited dysautonomias.

Autonomic testing includes:

• cardiovascular and sudomotor assessment of pure, inherited and secondary dysautonomias
• assessment of syncope
• quantitative assessment of small fiber neuropathies
• quantitative assessment of CRPS by the Mayo Clinic protocol

Evaluation of autonomic function presents a significant challenge for physicians and autonomic testing helps by detecting previously undiagnosed deficits while also quantifying their severity and distribution. Accordingly, the Autonomic Laboratory, Division of Neurosciences, Autonomic Laboratory is dedicated to providing comprehensive evaluation, including safe, non-invasive and accurate testing of the autonomic nervous system.