The splanchnic autonomic outflow in amyloid neuropathy and Tangier disease.

The splanchnic outflow is important in the maintenance of postural normotension in humans. Pathology of outflow is usually associated with postural hypotension. Morphometric analyses were performed on the intermediolateral column neuron cell bodies at the T7 level in four cases of amyloid neuropathy and one case of Tangier disease. In amyloid neuropathy, postural hypotension is common; cell counts were reduced and ranged from 50 to 79% of control values. In Tangier disease, postural hypotension has not been reported; cell counts were normal.