Prevalence of Autonomic Dysreflexia in Patients with Spinal Cord Injury above T6

Autonomic dysreflexia (AD) is a condition common in spinal cord injury (SCI) patients, particularly those with injuries at or above the T6 level. It involves a range of symptoms, from mild issues like headaches and sweating to severe problems such as arrhythmia and dangerously high blood pressure. Cardiovascular disease is a major concern for SCI patients, often linked to blood pressure control issues like AD. Traditional methods of diagnosing AD, such as single blood pressure checks, may not be sufficient for early and accurate detection of blood pressure instability. This study uses ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) and a questionnaire to assess the prevalence of AD in SCI patients. ABPM provides continuous blood pressure measurements over 24 hours, allowing for a more comprehensive assessment of blood pressure instability.

• 1
  The study found a high prevalence of AD among patients with SCI above T6, with 92.8% experiencing at least one AD event according to ABPM.
• 2
  A significant number of patients (42.9%) were identified as having asymptomatic AD, highlighting the potential for underdiagnosis when relying solely on reported symptoms.
• 3
  The study observed a loss of the typical nocturnal blood pressure dipping pattern in SCI patients, suggesting autonomic nervous system dysfunction.