title: [Paroxysmal sympathetic storm after diffuse axonal head injury].
abstract: The term paroxysmal sympathetic storms is used to define episodic alterations in body temperature, blood pressure, heart and respiratory rate, size of pupil, and level of consciousness coinciding with hyperhidrosis, excessive salivation and extensor posturing. All the cases were presented after severe diffuse axonal head injury. We present two young patients with diffuse axonal head injury that develop in their evolution hypertension, tachycardia and fever without evidence during the episodes of epileptiform activity and without any infectious cause with excellent answer to the treatment with beta-blockers and morphine. We consider that the correct diagnosis of this entity minimizes the application of unnecessary studies allowing an appropriate treatment.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Clínica Médica, Hospital Británico de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Pablo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Bárbara C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Finn
authors.forename: Débora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pellegrini
authors.forename: Eliás D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Soloaga
authors.forename: Julio E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Bruetman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D020833:Diffuse Axonal Injury / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005334:Fever / Q000503:physiopathology; D023261:Glasgow Outcome Scale; D006801:Humans; D006945:Hyperhidrosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D013614:Tachycardia, Paroxysmal / Q000503:physiopathology