How do you factor in a negative tilt table test in the workup for patients with suspected autonomic dysfunction?

Autonomic dysfunction encompasses a wide range of symptoms and conditions, making it more of a descriptor than a specific diagnosis. It's akin to diagnosing "lung dysfunction" or a "blood disorder". The next question should be "Which one?" or "Tell me more.".

When assessing autonomic symptoms, it's crucial to differentiate whether you are dealing with autonomic dysfunction, also known as dysautonomia, and normal autonomic responses to underlying perturbations. This can sometimes be challenging. For instance, a patient with anemia may experience dyspnea and tachycardia, but this is a normal autonomic response ("eu-autonomia") rather than autonomic dysfunction.

A tilt table might be ordered in a patient presenting with orthostatic intolerance...