Blood pressure regulation in autonomic failure by dietary sodium, blood volume and posture

In normal subjects natriuresis is tightly coupled to dietary salt ingestion to maintain sodium balance. Likewise, blood pressure remains unchanged over a wide range of salt intake because of pressure natriuresis, whereby an increase in blood pressure stimulates renal sodium excretion to restore homeostasis. These sodium handling mechanisms are impaired in autonomic failure. When exposed to salt restriction, autonomic failure patients are unable to reduce renal sodium excretion, and their orthostatic hypotension worsens.
Source: Autonomic Neuroscience: Basic and Clinical - Category: Neuroscience Authors: Source Type: research