Cardiovascular instability and baroreflex activity in a patient with tetanus

In a patient with tetanus we tested the hypothesis that the hyperadrenergic cardiovascular instability might be due to impairment of the baroreceptor reflex by the tetanus toxin. Baroreflex sensitivity assessed with the phenylephrine method was found to be normal. Changes in arterial pressure correl...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical autonomic research 1991-03, Vol.1 (1), p.5-8
Main Authors: van Lieshout, J J, Wieling, W, Settels, J J, Karemaker, J M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abscess - complications
Abscess - etiology
Adult
Blood Pressure
Cardiac Output
Cardiovascular System - physiopathology
Heart Rate
Hemodynamics
Heroin Dependence
Humans
Injections
Male
Pressoreceptors - physiology
Stroke Volume
Tetanus - etiology
Tetanus - physiopathology
Vascular Resistance
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Summary:In a patient with tetanus we tested the hypothesis that the hyperadrenergic cardiovascular instability might be due to impairment of the baroreceptor reflex by the tetanus toxin. Baroreflex sensitivity assessed with the phenylephrine method was found to be normal. Changes in arterial pressure correlated inversely with relative changes in plasma volume but not with plasma catecholamine levels. There were both extreme hypo- and hyper-adrenergic episodes. We conclude that sympathetic overactivity in tetanus temporarily overrules a functionally intact baroreflex leading to severe blood pressure instability with episodes of hypertension.
ISSN:0959-9851
1619-1560
DOI:10.1007/BF01826051