Hyperadrenergic syndrome in severe tetanus: extreme rise in catecholamines responsive to labetalol.
The hyperadrenergic syndrome that occurs in tetanus is characterised by hypertension, tachycardia, and increased systemic arteriolar resistance. A 74 year old man with tetanus was found to have very high catecholamine concentrations--as high as those in phaeochromocytoma--and the fluctuations in blood pressure and heart rate were measured to see whether they paralleled changes in the catecholamine values. A labetalol infusion of 0.25-1 mg/min gradually stabilised the cardiovascular disturbances and the patient recovered.
D000320:Adrenergic Fibers; D000368:Aged; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000097:blood*; D004983:Ethanolamines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology; D007741:Labetalol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D013577:Syndrome; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000209:etiology; D013742:Tetanus / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications*
D002395:Catecholamines; D004983:Ethanolamines; D007741:Labetalol