Beta-blockers in the management of posttraumatic paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity: A case report from western Cameroon

Abstract

[Uncorrected Proof]

Traumatic brain injuries are the most common cause of paroxysmal sympathetic hyperactivity (PSH), a life-threatening autonomic dysregulation syndrome. Although PSH was first described in 1929, there remains a paucity of publications on this subject. Here, we report a case of posttraumatic PSH treated with beta-blockers.  Two days after suffering a moderate traumatic brain injury, a 32-year-old man was admitted to our emergency department at a teaching hospital in western Cameroon. The patient experienced 16-minute episodes of hypertension, diaphoresis, and agitation, occurring 3 to 4 times daily. His symptoms resolved after treatment with oral atenolol 50 mg every 12 hours. Our experience corroborates the effectiveness of beta-blockers in the treatment of posttraumatic PSH.