Disturbances of the vegetative nervous system

The autonomic nervous system consists of two different components: the symp athetic and the parasympathetic nervous system, which are controlled by a c entral network in the brain and spinal cord. Therefore autonomic dysfunctio ns are caused by a variety of diseases of the CNS and PNS. Due to CNS disea ses there are two general types of autonomic dysfunctions. Firstly deficien cy syndromes caused by cell lesions and secondly pure dysfunctions without any structural lesions. Typical primary deficiency syndromes are MSA and Pa rkinson's disease; secondary deficiency syndromes are, for example, brain i nfarctions or syringomyelia. Typical examples of pure dysfunctions of the a utonomic nervous system are side effects of drugs. Consecutive symptoms of an efferent autonomic denervation are pupillary dysfunction, trophic distur bances, anhidrosis and vasodysregulation; consecutive symptoms of an autono mic visceral denervation are cardioneuropathy, gastrointestinal disorders a nd urogenital disturbances. Diabetes mellitus is the most important etiolog y of autonomic peripheral neuropathy.