Autonomic dysreflexia can present with sweating and skin flushing above the level of injury. True or False?

Autonomic dysreflexia can present with sweating and skin flushing above the level of injury. True or False?

• A. Only below the injury
• B. False
• C. Only at the injury level
• D. True

Answer: (D)

Autonomic dysreflexia involves an overactive reflex that starts with a noxious stimulus below the level of spinal cord injury and causes a sudden rise in blood pressure. The body’s parasympathetic signals can reach only above the injury, so you get sweating and flushing on parts of the body above the injury while the areas below may become pale and cool due to vasoconstriction. Therefore, sweating and skin flushing above the level of injury are exactly what you’d expect in this condition. This is a medical emergency—identify and remove the trigger (like bladder distention or bowel impaction), sit the patient up to help lower BP, and monitor and treat the hypertension as needed.

Autonomic dysreflexia involves an overactive reflex that starts with a noxious stimulus below the level of spinal cord injury and causes a sudden rise in blood pressure. The body’s parasympathetic signals can reach only above the injury, so you get sweating and flushing on parts of the body above the injury while the areas below may become pale and cool due to vasoconstriction. Therefore, sweating and skin flushing above the level of injury are exactly what you’d expect in this condition. This is a medical emergency—identify and remove the trigger (like bladder distention or bowel impaction), sit the patient up to help lower BP, and monitor and treat the hypertension as needed.