Anhidrosis

Anhidrosis

Anhidrosis, or hypohidrosis, is a loss or lack of sweating. This may be due to primary autonomic failure, or to pathology within the posterior hypothalamus ("sympathetic area").

Anhidrosis may occur in various neurological disorders, including multiple system atrophy, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, caudal to a spinal cord lesion, and in some hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathies. Localized or generalized anhidrosis may be seen in Holmes-Adie syndrome, and unilateral anhidrosis may be seen in Horner’s syndrome if the symptomatic lesion is distal to the superior cervical ganglion.

Cross References

Holmes-adie pupil, Holmes-Adie syndrome; Horner’s syndrome; Hyperhidrosis