Baclofen successfully abolished prolonged central hyperthermia in a patient with basilar artery occlusion.
Hyperthermia, not uncommon in severe brainstem stroke, is frequently difficult to control and associated with a poor prognosis and high mortality. Successful treatment of central hyperthermia in patients with brainstem infarction by baclofen has not been described. Following basilar artery occlusion, a 68-year-old female developed prolonged hyperthermia. Her hyperthermia did not respond to any antipyretic treatments. A water-cooling blanket was utilized to control her hyperthermia; however, body temperatures fluctuated at a range of 35.5-40.0 degrees C. After given baclofen 30 mg/day, her body temperatures returned to a normal range and remained stable. Hyperthermia following severe brainstem infarction without any sign of infection or inflammatory sources usually comes from a central origin and is likely associated with dysfunctions of the thermoregulatory system. Baclofen may be one of the treatment choices in patients with neurogenic central hyperthermia.
Huang
Yung-Sung
YS
Department of Neurology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan.
Hsiao
Ming-Chang
MC
Lee
Meng
M
Huang
Ying-Chih
YC
Lee
Jiann-Der
JD
D000368:Aged; D001418:Baclofen / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001833:Body Temperature Regulation; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000098:blood supply; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014715:Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency / Q000150:complications*
D001418:Baclofen