Hyperreflexia (Overactive Autonomic Reflex)

Overview

Autonomic Hyperreflexia is a condition in which your involuntary nervous system overreacts to external or bodily stimuli and is a sign of upper motor neuron damage. When affecting the autonomic system, hyperreflexia has the dangerous ability to make your blood pressure spike while causing your heart to beat very slowly. This will put you at serious risk of stroke.

When associated with spasticity and limb reflexes, the most common signs are finger flexion reflexes, jaw jerks, involuntary rhythmic muscular contraction and relaxation, and reflexes where an impulse enters one segment and activate motor neurons located in many other segments (Irradiation of Reflexes).

Hyperreflexia stems from the spinal cord and nerve dysfunction associated with myelopathyOverview Myelopathy is one of the three major symptom catego....

Possible Body Responses to Autonomic Hyperreflexia

• a dangerous spike in blood pressure -high blood pressure with systolic readings often over 200 mm Hg
• a pounding headacheOverview It is challenging to pinpoint the exact cause of su...
• slow heartbeat
• constriction of your peripheral blood vessels
• other changes in your body’s autonomic functions
• bladder incontinence
• bladder failure to empty

Managment

Your neurologist will identify which of your body’s systems are being affected and refer you to the appropriate specialty for care. This may include gastroenterology, physical therapy, or urology. Blood pressure and heart rate issues need to be addressed immediately by cardiology.

Reference:

Arq. Neuro-Psiquiatr. vol.75 no.2 São Paulo Feb. 2017

http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/0004-282×20170001

RESUMO

Siderose superficial (SS) do sistema nervoso central (SNC) é uma doença rara e provavelmente subdiagnosticada, resultante de sangramento crônico no espaço subaracnóide, levando ao depósito de produtos sanguíneos nas camadas meníngeas subpiais. Ressonância magnética (RM) mostra um padrão curvilíneo característico com hipointensidade nas suas sequências sensíveis a sangue.

Métodos

Série de casos coletados de centros brasileiros.

Resultados

Apresentamos 13 casos de pacientes com história progressiva de disfunção neurológica causada por SS-SNC. Os achados clínicos mais frequentes destes pacientes foram ataxia progressiva da marcha, perda auditiva, hiperreflexia e disfunção cognitiva. O diagnóstico de SS-SNC foi firmado de sete meses a 30 anos após o início da doença.

Conclusão

SS-SNC é uma condição rara que pode permanecer sem diagnóstico por longos períodos. O conhecimento desta entidade é essencial ao clínico.

Updated: April 18, 2018

Sources: Superficial siderosis is a rare neurologic disease characterized by progressive sensorineural hearing lossOverview In approximately 95% of superficial siderosis patie..., cerebellar ataxiaOverview Ataxia is considered a symptom of your superficial ..., pyramidal signs, and neuroimaging findings revealing hemosiderin deposits in the spinal and cranial leptomeninges and subpial layer. The disease progresses slowly, and patients may present with mild cognitive impairmentOverview Cognition is the range of high-level brain function..., nystagmusOverview Nystagmus involves the involuntary and uncontrolled..., dysmetria, spasticityOverview Spasticity is a condition in which individual muscl..., dysdiadochokinesiaOverview Dysdiadochokinesia (DDK) is the medical term used t..., dysarthriaOverview Cerebellar dysarthria is a distinct speech disorder..., hyperreflexia, and Babinski signs. Additional features reported include dementiaOverview Dementia is the progressive decline of cognitive fu..., urinary incontinence, anosmia, ageusia, and anisocoriaOverview Anisocoria, a condition characterized by unequal pu.... Superficial siderosis MedGen UID: 831707 •Concept ID: CN226971 •Finding Orphanet: ORPHA247245

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