Assessment of Autonomic Dysfunction in Iraqi Patients with Parkinson’s Disease using the SSR

Background: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects both motor and non-motor functions, including the autonomic nervous system. Autonomic dysfunction, particularly involving sympathetic pathways, is a common but underdiagnosed feature in PD. Objectives: This study aimed to assess autonomic dysfunction in Iraqi patients with Parkinson’s disease using the Sympathetic Skin Response (SSR) test as a non-invasive neurophysiological tool. Methods: A case-control study was conducted at Ghazi Al-Hariri Surgical Teaching Hospital, involving 40 patients diagnosed with PD and 40 age-matched healthy controls. All participants underwent SSR testing to evaluate latency and amplitude in the hands and feet under standardized conditions. Results: PD patients exhibited significantly prolonged SSR latencies and markedly reduced amplitudes in both hands and feet compared to controls (p < 0.001). Clinically, the most frequent autonomic symptoms were constipation (87.5%), impotence (80.0%), and dysphagia (75.0%). Conclusion: The findings indicate a clear disruption in sympathetic autonomic function among PD patients, as revealed by SSR testing. This highlights the importance of early autonomic assessment in PD to facilitate timely interventions and improve patient care.