title: Autonomic dysreflexia in acute disseminated encephalomyelitis.
abstract: Autonomic dysreflexia occurs in patients with spinal cord injury, and is characterized by unbalanced sympathetic discharge, precipitated by noxious stimuli from a site below the spinal cord lesion. An 11-year-old boy with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis and spinal cord involvement manifested episodes of intense flushing and sweating, confined to the head and neck region, and associated with hypertension and tachycardia. His signs improved after changing a partly blocked bladder catheter. The clinical features suggested autonomic dysreflexia. Early recognition of autonomic dysreflexia is important because removal of the trigger precipitating the event may be life-saving.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Institute of Maternal and Child Health, Medical College, Calicut, Kerala, India. mp.jayakrishnan@gmail.com
authors.forename: Machinary P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Jayakrishnan
authors.forename: Padinharath
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Krishnakumar
authors.forename: Rajendran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gauthamen
authors.forename: Sasidharanpillai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sabitha
authors.forename: Ellezhuthil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Devarajan
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020211:Autonomic Dysreflexia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D004673:Encephalomyelitis, Acute Disseminated / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005483:Flushing / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D006945:Hyperhidrosis / Q000209:etiology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015878:Mydriasis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D010291:Paresis / Q000209:etiology; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000150:complications; D012640:Seizures / Q000209:etiology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000503:physiopathology; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014546:Urinary Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D011239:Prednisolone; D008775:Methylprednisolone