Paroxysmal hypertension in a C4 spinal cord injury--a case report.
Hypertension in a patient with acute spinal cord injury is commonly caused by autonomic dysreflexia, which is a syndrome of paroxysmal hypertension associated with headaches, relative bradycardia and vasomotor instability secondary to sympathetic overactivity. Life-threatening complications such as seizures and intracerebral haemorrhage are largely preventable. We report both acute and chronic forms of autonomic dysreflexia due to underlying urinary and faecal impaction in a 33-year-old female with traumatic C4 quadriplegia. She was successfully managed with a combination of physical and pharmacological measures including calcium channel and sympathetic blockers.
Chua
K S
KS
Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Tan Tock Seng Hospital.
Kong
K H
KH
Tan
E S
ES
D000328:Adult; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology* / Q000628:therapy; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications*