Autonomic hyperreflexia associated with exacerbation of reflex sympathetic dystrophy

Autonomic hyperreflexia is a condition of massive paroxysmal reflex sympathetic outflow in response to noxious stimuli occurring below the major splanchnic sympathetic outflow in patients with spinal cord injuries. This heightened sympathetic outflow can result in dramatic sudomotor and vasomotor manifestations. The unique nature of this sympathetic-mediated response following traumatic spinal cord injury provides a model for the study of the autonomic nervous system in normal and pathological conditions. A case of autonomic hyperreflexia exacerbating the pain of reflex sympathetic dystrophy in a patient with tetraplegia illustrates the role of the sympathetic nervous system in the pathophysiology of sympathetic-mediated pain and supports current treatment options for these conditions.