[Autoimmune autonomic ganglionopathy: a case series of six patients and literature review]

Abstract

Purpose: Auto-immune autonomic ganglionopathy is a recently described clinical entity within the spectrum of autonomic neuropathies. Patients with auto-immune autonomic ganglionopathy typically present with rapid onset of severe autonomic failure. Acetylcholine receptor ganglionic antibodies, directed against ganglionic synapsis, disrupt synaptic transmission in autonomic ganglia and lead to autonomic failure. These antibodies are specific for auto-immune autonomic ganglionopathy and are present in 50% of patients.

Methods: Descriptive retrospective study. We report six French patients who presented with auto-immune autonomic ganglionopathy diagnosed between 1996 and 2002.

Results: Four patients were men and the median age at diagnosis was 45 years. All patients presented with a subacute autonomic failure with constant severe orthostatic hypotension. Serological testing of acetylcholine receptor ganglionic antibodies was performed in four out of the six patients and was found positive in three. All the patients received intravenous immunoglobulin and a clinical improvement was observed in four of them.

Conclusion: Auto-immune autonomic ganglionopathy is an unusual and overlooked disorder. However, this autonomic neuropathy deserves to be better known as most of the patients respond to immunomodulatory therapy.