title: Cortical blindness associated with autonomic dysreflexia in a man with tetraplegia: a rare but serious complication.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To describe a case of a 44-year-old man with complete C4 tetraplegia who developed transient cortical blindness in the subacute setting following episodes of autonomic dysreflexia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Transient cortical blindness the day after surgery for  appendicitis that had resulted in severe autonomic dysreflexia (AD) requiring aggressive blood pressure management. Imaging showed no evidence of acute stroke, but did show vasospasm in the occipital lobes. Vision improved over the next couple of months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This case illustrates a possible profound vasomotor phenomenon (cortical blindness) associated with AD and its symptomatic treatment. Early recognition of AD and treatment of its underlying cause cannot be overemphasized.
authors: Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA. joseph.rosenthal@osumc.edu
authors: Joseph
authors: J
authors: Rosenthal
authors: Sam
authors: S
authors: Colachis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D020211:Autonomic Dysreflexia / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D019575:Blindness, Cortical / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D011859:Radiography