Skip to Main Content
ALL DEFINITIONS

Pure Autonomic Failure

Definition

Pure autonomic failure (PAF) is a rare neurological disorder characterized by the progressive degeneration of the autonomic nervous system, which is responsible for regulating involuntary body functions such as blood pressure, heart rate, digestion, and temperature regulation. The most common symptom of PAF is orthostatic hypotension (a drop in blood pressure when standing up from sitting or lying down). This condition leads to various symptoms affecting multiple organ systems and can significantly impact an individual's quality of life.