Keywords
spinal cord injury, autonomic dysreflexia, diaphoresis, hypertension
Disciplines
Internal Medicine | Male Urogenital Diseases | Medical Education | Medical Neurobiology | Nervous System Diseases | Neurology | Neurosciences | Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms | Reproductive and Urinary Physiology | Urology
Abstract
Autonomic dysreflexia (AD) is a life threatening condition affecting patients with spinal cord lesions T6 level and above. A 51 year old male with a history of paraplegia due to a C6 spinal cord injury (30 years prior) presented with recurrent debilitating episodic diaphoresis, hypertension, low body temperature, and bradycardia. Previous hospitalizations presumed sepsis from UTI to be the etiology, however on further evaluation his symptoms were consistent with undiagnosed AD. This article describes a unique case presentation and reviews AD in depth, including the etiology, pathophysiology and management.
Included in
Internal Medicine Commons, Male Urogenital Diseases Commons, Medical Education Commons, Medical Neurobiology Commons, Nervous System Diseases Commons, Neurology Commons, Neurosciences Commons, Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Commons, Reproductive and Urinary Physiology Commons, Urology Commons
