Blood pressure disorders during Parkinson's disease: epidemiology, pathophysiology and management

Abstract

Blood pressure disorders are highly prevalent in the course of Parkinson's disease (PD). They relate to autonomic failure and are frequently associated with orthostatic hypotension, postprandial hypotension and supine hypertension. Supine hypertension, which may concern up to 50% of patients with PD and autonomic failure, is driven by residual sympathetic activity and changes in sensitivity of vascular adrenergic receptors. It can also be induced or worsened by antihypotensive drugs. Even if little data is available, a set of arguments suggests that supine hypertension sometimes requires treatment. This review will focus on recent data on the pathophysiology and the management of supine hypertension in the context of its association with orthostatic hypotension.