title: Hypertension, hyperekplexia, and pyramidal paresis due to vascular compression of the medulla.
abstract: MRI showed impingement of the vertebral artery on the left lateral medulla in two patients with arterial hypertension, exaggerated startle reflexes (hyperekplexia), and progressive spastic paresis. One patient underwent microvascular decompression with normalization of arterial hypertension, disappearance of hyperekplexia, and improvement of spastic paresis. The combination of arterial hypertension, hyperekplexia, and progressive spastic paresis should arouse suspicion of neurovascular compression of the lateral medulla.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Università di Bologna, Ospedale Bellaria, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Salvi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mascalchi
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bortolotti
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meletti
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Plasmati
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rubboli
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stecchi
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Villari
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Calbucci
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Tassinari
mesh_terms: D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009132:Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D010291:Paresis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013216:Reflex, Startle / Q000502:physiology*