Autonomic Nervous Function in Huntington's Disease

Autonomic nervous system function was studied by means of a series of standardized tests in 11 patients with Huntington's disease (HD) and in 11 age- and sex-matched controls. Two statistically significant differences were found. The blood pressure response to sustained handgrip was diminished and the pupillary light reflex latency was increased in the HD group. The former probably reflects diminished input from higher centers on an otherwise intact sympathetic nervous system. The latter may indicate involvement of the pretectal or Edinger-Westphal nuclei in HD. No further signs of autonomic nervous system dysfunction were found.