REFLEX SYMPATHETIC DYSTROPHY SYNDROME - E TIOLOGY, CLINICAL-FEATURES,AND OUTCOME ACCORDING TO ETIOLOGY

Reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome, which presents a very wide spec trum of clinical patterns, is secondary to another condition in approx imately one of every two cases. Although injury is the most common cau se, many other events can precipitate or trigger the disease, includin g inflammatory, infectious, metabolic, dystrophic, degenerative, and t umorous disorders of the musculoskeletal system; cardiovascular and pl europulmonary disease; and diseases of the central or peripheral nervo us system. These events often occur in combination. In some instances, however, one etiologic factor plays a dominant role (e.g., childhood forms, treatment-induced forms, and forms associated with pregnancy or malignancies).