Pf. Pasquina et al., BETA-BLOCKADE IN THE TREATMENT OF AUTONOMIC DYSREFLEXIA - A CASE-REPORT AND REVIEW, Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation, 79(5), 1998, pp. 582-584
Autonomic dysreflexia has long been considered a sympathetically media
ted phenomenon. Recent articles have reported the use of alpha blocker
s as a means of treatment. We report the case of a 20-year-old C5 Amer
ican Spinal Injury Association A spinal cord injured patient who almos
t daily experienced symptoms of headache, facial flushing, and hyperte
nsion consistent with autonomic dysreflexia. These symptoms caused him
frequent discomfort and anxiety. Despite an extensive workup, we were
unable to identify a source of his dysreflexic episodes. After starti
ng metoprolol 50mg every night, however, these episodes stopped and th
e patient showed no adverse effects from the medication. (C) 1998 by t
he American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine and the American Acade
my of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.