Learn About Familial Dysautonomia
Familial dysautonomia (FD) is an inherited disorder that affects nerves throughout the body.
Riley-Day syndrome; FD; Hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy - type III (HSAN III); Autonomic crises - familial dysautonomia
FD is passed down through families (inherited). A person must inherit a copy of the variant gene from each parent to develop the condition.
FD occurs most often in people of Eastern European Jewish ancestry (Ashkenazi Jews). It is caused by a change to a gene. It is rare in the general population.
FD affects the nerves in the autonomic (involuntary) nervous system. These nerves manage daily body functions such as blood pressure, heart rate, sweating, bowel and bladder emptying, digestion, and the senses.
Symptoms of FD are present at birth and may grow worse over time. Symptoms vary, and may include:
- Swallowing problems in infants, resulting in aspiration pneumonia or poor growth
- Breath-holding spells, resulting in fainting
- Constipation or diarrhea
- Inability to feel pain and changes in temperature (can lead to injuries)
- Dry eyes and lack of tears when crying
- Poor coordination and unsteady walk
- Seizures
- Unusually smooth, pale tongue surface and lack of taste buds and decrease in sense of taste
After age 3, most children develop autonomic crises. These are episodes of vomiting with very high blood pressure, racing heart, fever, and sweating.
FD can't be cured. Treatment is aimed at managing the symptoms and may include:
- Medicines to help prevent seizures
- Feeding in an upright position and giving textured formula to prevent gastroesophageal reflux (stomach acid and food coming back up, also called GERD)
- Measures to prevent low blood pressure when standing, such as increasing intake of fluid, salt, and caffeine, and wearing elastic stockings
- Medicines to control vomiting
- Medicines to prevent dry eyes
- Physical therapy of the chest
- Measures to protect against injury
- Providing enough nutrition and fluids
- Surgery or spinal fusion to treat spine problems
- Treating aspiration pneumonia
Wassilios Meissner practices in Bordeaux, France. Meissner and is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Familial Dysautonomia. Their top areas of expertise are Multiple System Atrophy, Familial Dysautonomia, Movement Disorders, Parkinson's Disease, and Deep Brain Stimulation.
Regents Of The University Of California
Pam Taub is a Cardiologist and a Nuclear Medicine provider in San Diego, California. Dr. Taub and is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Familial Dysautonomia. Her top areas of expertise are Heart Failure, Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), High Cholesterol, and Familial Dysautonomia.
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Italo Biaggioni is a Cardiologist in Nashville, Tennessee. Dr. Biaggioni and is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Familial Dysautonomia. His top areas of expertise are Orthostatic Hypotension, Low Blood Pressure, Familial Dysautonomia, and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). Dr. Biaggioni is currently accepting new patients.
Advances in diagnosis and treatment are increasing the survival rate. About one half of babies born with FD will live to age 30.
Contact your provider if symptoms change or get worse. A genetic counselor can help teach you about the condition and direct you to support groups in your area.
Genetic DNA testing is very accurate for FD. It may be used for diagnosing people with the condition or those who carry the gene. It can also be used for prenatal diagnosis.
People of Eastern European Jewish background and families with a history of FD may wish to seek genetic counseling if they are thinking of having children.
Summary: The current protocol is to determine the biodistribution, metabolism, excretion and brain uptake of 11C HY-2-15. The goal of this radiotracer is to quantify alpha-synuclein that is abnormally deposited in the brain of people with Multiple System Atrophy (MSA). The investigators will compare uptake in people with MSA with people with Parkinson disease (PD) and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) a...
Summary: This registry aims to collect patient data on cardioneuroablation for vasovagal syncope from multiple centers in France. The aim is to evaluate success rates, compare techniques and help institutions set up their own cardioneuroablation program
Published Date: November 06, 2024
Published By: Anna C. Edens Hurst, MD, MS, Associate Professor in Medical Genetics, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Dugoff L, Wapner RJ. Prenatal diagnosis of congenital disorders. In: Lockwood CJ, Copel JA, Dugoff L, et al, eds. Creasy and Resnik's Maternal-Fetal Medicine: Principles and Practice. 9th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 30.
Ryan MM. Autonomic neuropathies. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 655.