BETA-BLOCKADE IN THE TREATMENT OF AUTONOMIC DYSREFLEXIA - A CASE-REPORT AND REVIEW

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.