Autonomic Abnormalities in Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome

Abstract

CVS is associated with remarkably uniform primarily sympathetic autonomic dysfunction, affecting mainly the vasomotor and sudomotor systems, and compatible with an underlying autonomic neuropathy. The occurrence of symptoms during tilt testing in half the patients suggests that these findings may play a true pathophysiologic role. A vagally modulated sympathetic effect is postulated as the best mechanistic model to account for all current physiologic data on cyclic vomiting and gastroparesis.