Paradoxical decrease in blood pressure after relief of cardiac tamponade: the role of sympathetic activity.
BACKGROUND
In contrast to patients who develop acute cardiac tamponade after penetrating trauma, tamponade in medical patients may be accompanied by normal or even elevated systolic blood pressure. This has been attributed to heightened sympathetic nervous system activity.


METHODS
We present a case of a medical patient with simultaneous hypertension and cardiac tamponade whose blood pressure fell dramatically after pericardiocentesis. We observed a decrease in normetanephrine levels in our patient concomitant with the decrease in blood pressure.


CONCLUSIONS
Our case provides further support for involvement of the sympathetic nervous system in medical patients with hypertensive tamponade. To our knowledge, this is the first case documenting adrenergic status in a patient with a paradoxical decrease in blood pressure after relief of tamponade.
Rowan
Shane B
SB
Department of Medicine, Cardiology Division at Denver Health Medical Center and the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO 80204-4507, USA.
Krantz
Mori J
MJ
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002305:Cardiac Tamponade / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D009647:Normetanephrine / Q000097:blood; D020519:Pericardiocentesis; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D014655:Vascular Resistance
D009647:Normetanephrine