Case Report

Spinal Cord (2005) 43, 738–740. doi:10.1038/sj.sc.3101780; published online 28 June 2005

Cerebral hemorrhage due to autonomic dysreflexia in a spinal cord injury patient

M Vallès1, J Benito1, E Portell1 and J Vidal1

1Spinal Cord Injury Unit, Institut Guttmann, Barcelona, Spain

Correspondence: J Vidal, Spinal Cord Injury Unit, Institut Guttmann, Camí de Can Ruti s/n 08916 Badalona, Barcelona, Spain

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Abstract

Study design:

 

Case report.

Objective:

 

To report an uncommon case of cerebral hemorrhage due to autonomic dysreflexia (AD) in a spinal cord injury (SCI) patient.

Setting:

 

Institut Guttmann, Neurorehabilitation Hospital in Barcelona, Spain.

Case report:

 

An SCI patient developed AD due to urinary tract infection after surgery for a pressure sore. The hypertension was difficult to control and the case progressed to hypertensive encephalopathy. MRI of the brain was performed showing a hemorrhagic lesion on the left occipital area. The hypertension was finally controlled and the neurological status improved although with some cognitive deficits.

Conclusion:

 

This is an uncommon case of cerebral hemorrhage due to AD, showing the importance of an adequate diagnosis and treatment of AD to avoid this life-threatening complication.

Keywords:

cerebral hemorrhage, hypertensive encephalopathy, autonomic dysreflexia, spinal cord injury

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