[Finapres, efficient technique in the assessment of orthostatic hypotension, autonomic neuropathy, and vaso-vagal syncope].

Finapres is a device able to continuously and non invasively measure arterial blood pressure by photoplethysmography in the finger. It can be used in various dynamic tests which involve cardiocirculatory adjustments, as a passive posture test ("tilt test") or an active orthostatic test (from squatting to standing position in the so-called squatting test). It represents a valuable help in the diagnosis of orthostatic hypotension (of endogenous or iatrogenic origin), of autonomic neuropathy (secondary to diabetes mellitus or to a neurological disease) or of vasovagal syncope. All these conditions are characterized by a defect of arterial and venous vasoconstriction and by an insufficient reflex tachycardia because of autonomic dysfunction.