ACUTE PAN-DYSAUTONOMIA WITH RECOVERY - EF FECT OF ERYTHROMYCIN ON GASTROINTESTINAL INVOLVEMENT

We describe a case of acute autonomic neuropathy in an 18-year-old wom an. Gut dysfunction was sufficiently severe for the patient to undergo laparotomy for suspected mechanical intestinal obstruction before the diagnosis was made. Apart from the gut, other organs affected include d the pupils, sweat and lachrymal glands. Cardiovascular autonomic fun ction tests showed the involvement of sympathetic adrenergic nerves. S mall bowel barium X-ray showed resolution of gastric stasis and emerge nce of jejunum dilation during intravenous administration of erythromy cin but this treatment did not eliminate intestinal obstructive sympto ms. The patient had an incomplete recovery in 3 months. Erythromycin m ight have therapeutic value in patients with intestinal motility dysfu nction in acute dysautonomia.