Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Paroxysmal sympathetic storm

  • Practical Pearl
  • Published:
Neurocritical Care Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Introduction: Paroxysmal sympathetic storm (PSS) is a rare syndrome characterized by episodic hypertension, hyperhydrosis, hyperthermia, tachycardia, tachypnea, and extensor posturing.

Case reports: This article describes two cases of PSS: one following traumatic brain injury and the other following cardiac arrest.

Discussion: The first responded to labetalol, morphine, and codeine, whereas the second responded to labetalol.

Conclusion: These observations underscore the importance of central opioid receptors and nonselective β-adrenergic antagonists in modulating catecholamine pathways

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Penfield W. Diencephalic autonomic epilepsy. Arch Neurol Psychiatry 1929;22:358–374.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Penfield W, Jasper H. Epilepsy and the Functional Anatomy of the Human Brain. 1st. ed. Boston: Little Brown, 1954.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Bullard DE. Diencephalic seizures: responsiveness to bromocriptine and morphine. Ann Neurol 1987;21(6):609–611.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Darnell RB, Arbit E. Reversible diencephalic dysfunction: episodic hyperhidrosis due to a trapped third ventricle. Neurology 1993;43:579–682.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. Bhigjee AI, Ames FR, Rutherford GS. Adult aqueduct stenosis and diencephalic epilepsy. A case report. J Neurol Sci 1985;71(1):77–89.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Boeve BF, Wijdicks EF, Benarroch EE, Schmidt KD. Paroxysmal sympathetic storms (“diencephalic seizures”) after severe diffuse axonal head injury. Mayo Clin Proc 1998;73(2):148–152.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Shapiro WR, Williams GH, Plum F. Spontaneous recurrent hypothermia accompanying agenesis of the corpus callosum. Brain 1969;92(2):423–436.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Do D, Sheen VL, Bromfield E. Treatment of paroxysmal sympathetic storm with labetalol. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2000;69(6):832–833.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Solomon GE. Diencephalic autonomic epilepsy caused by a neoplasm. J Pediatr 1973;83(2):277–280.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Carmel PW. Vegetative dysfunctions of the hypothalamus. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 1985;75(1–4):113–121.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Ryan JB, Hicks M, Cropper JR, et al. Functional evidence of reversible ischemic injury immediately after the sympathetic storm associated with experimental brain death. J Heart Lung Transplant 2003;22(8):922–928.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Graham LN, Smith PA, Stoker JB, Mackintosh AF, Mary DA. Time course of sympathetic neural hyperactivity after uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction. Circulation 2002;106(7):793–797.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, USA

    Alan L. Diamond, R. Charlie Callison, Salvador Cruz-Flores & Laurence J. Kinsella

  2. Souers Stroke Institute, Forest Park Hospital, USA

    Salvador Cruz-Flores

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, Forest Park Hospital, USA

    Jahansouz Shokri

  4. Neuroscience Institute, Forest Park Hospital, USA

    Laurence J. Kinsella

Authors
  1. Alan L. Diamond
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. R. Charlie Callison
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jahansouz Shokri
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Salvador Cruz-Flores
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Laurence J. Kinsella
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Laurence J. Kinsella.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Diamond, A.L., Callison, R.C., Shokri, J. et al. Paroxysmal sympathetic storm. Neurocrit Care 2, 288–291 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1385/NCC:2:3:288

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/NCC:2:3:288

Key Words

Search

Navigation