TY - JOUR
T1 - Paroxysmal sympathetic storms ('Diencephalic seizures') after severe diffuse axonal head injury
AU - Boeve, B. F.
AU - Wijdicks, E. F.M.
AU - Benarroch, E. E.
AU - Schmidt, K. D.
N1 - Funding Information:
Received March 22, 1984; revised Aug. 13, 1984; accepted Dec. 14, 1984. Dr. Wright is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Science University of South Carolina School of Medicine, and Medical Director of the Diagnostic Nursery at the William S. Hall Psychiatric Institute. Ms. Miller is Clinical Director of the Diagnostic Nursery at the William S. Hall Psychiatric Institute. Mr. Cook is a graduate student in clinical psychology at Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri. Dr. Littmann is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Neuropsychiatry and Behavioral Science, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, and Clinical Psychologist at the William S. Hall Psychiatric Institute. The authors wish to thank Bruce Chlopan for his assistance in preparing this report. Reprints may be requested from Dr. Wright, Post Office Box 202, Columbia, SC 29202. Dr. Wright was partially supported by NIMH Child Mental Health Faculty Development Award MH 17555.
PY - 1998
Y1 - 1998
N2 - We describe a patient with a severe traumatic head injury who exhibited paroxysmal sympathetic storms, similar to those described in 'diencephalic seizures.' No epileptiform activity was evident on electroencephalography, and therapeutic levels of anticonvulsants failed to alter the spells; however, use of morphine sulfate abolished them. The features of this and several previously reported cases refute the primary roles of the diencephalon and seizures in this syndrome. Rather, in the setting of already compromised autonomic neuronal integrity, subtle fluctuations in intraventricular pressure or activation of reflexes triggered from muscle mechanoreceptors or chemoreceptors during episodes of hypertonia are more likely. 'Paroxysmal sympathetic storms,' a more appropriate descriptive term for these phenomena, should be recognized; thus, unnecessary diagnostic evaluations can be minimized, and appropriate therapy can be initiated.
AB - We describe a patient with a severe traumatic head injury who exhibited paroxysmal sympathetic storms, similar to those described in 'diencephalic seizures.' No epileptiform activity was evident on electroencephalography, and therapeutic levels of anticonvulsants failed to alter the spells; however, use of morphine sulfate abolished them. The features of this and several previously reported cases refute the primary roles of the diencephalon and seizures in this syndrome. Rather, in the setting of already compromised autonomic neuronal integrity, subtle fluctuations in intraventricular pressure or activation of reflexes triggered from muscle mechanoreceptors or chemoreceptors during episodes of hypertonia are more likely. 'Paroxysmal sympathetic storms,' a more appropriate descriptive term for these phenomena, should be recognized; thus, unnecessary diagnostic evaluations can be minimized, and appropriate therapy can be initiated.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85085632231&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85085632231&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/S0025-6196(11)63647-1
DO - 10.1016/S0025-6196(11)63647-1
M3 - Article
C2 - 9472998
AN - SCOPUS:85085632231
SN - 0025-6196
VL - 73
SP - 148
EP - 152
JO - Mayo Clinic proceedings
JF - Mayo Clinic proceedings
IS - 2
ER -