Autonomic nervous function in progressive supranuclear palsy.

Autonomic nervous function was assessed in 11 patients with progressive supranuclear palsy, 26 patients with Parkinson's disease, matched for age, medications, disease severity, and disease duration, and 19 age-matched controls. Results of both parasympathetic (heart rate response to deep breathing and Valsalva maneuver) and sympathetic (blood pressure decrease on standing and increase on sustained handgrip) tests were abnormal in both patient groups. Abnormalities in the group of patients with progressive supranuclear palsy were similar to those in the group with Parkinson's disease but were more pronounced. Autonomic dysfunction may have to be considered a feature of progressive supranuclear palsy.