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[Contralateral hyperhidrosis secondary to the pontine infarct]
A Rey1, J L Martí-Vilalta, M T Abellán
1Servicio de Neurología, Policlínica del Vallés, Granollers, Barcelona.
Revista De Neurologia
|April 1, 1996
Summary
A rare case of unilateral hyperhidrosis, or excessive sweating, linked to a brain infarct (stroke) is presented. This finding may offer new insights into the crossed sympathetic inhibitory tract and autonomic nervous system regulation.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neurology
- Autonomic Nervous System Research
Background:
- Unilateral hyperhidrosis is infrequently associated with cerebral infarcts.
- The underlying pathophysiology linking brain lesions to localized sweating abnormalities remains poorly understood.
- Potential involvement of the crossed sympathetic inhibitory tract has been hypothesized.
Observation:
- A case study of a patient presenting with contralateral hyperhidrosis following a hemipontine infarct is detailed.
- The patient exhibited excessive sweating on the side opposite to the brain lesion.
Findings:
- The hemipontine infarct was identified as the cause of the observed unilateral hyperhidrosis.
- This case supports the hypothesis of a crossed sympathetic inhibitory pathway influencing thermoregulation and sweating.
Implications:
- This rare clinical sign may serve as a diagnostic indicator for specific types of cerebral lesions.
- Further research into this phenomenon could elucidate the complex neural pathways controlling sympathetic sweating.
- Understanding this link may aid in developing targeted treatments for autonomic dysfunction following stroke.