Reversible Cerebral Vasoconstriction Syndrome Due to Midodrine in a Patient with Autonomic Dysreflexia

Abstract

License CC-BY 3.0., which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. Abstract Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) is a rare neurological condition that typically presents with a sudden-onset thunderclap headache associated with or without focal neurological deficits. The diagnosis is established by the presence of reversible segmental or diffuse cerebral vasoconstriction on diagnostic cerebral angiogram. Autonomic dysreflexia is a known complication resulting from spinal cord injury. It manifests as episodes of flushing, headache, and fluctuations in blood pressure. Midodrine is an alpha-1 agonist that causes vasoconstriction and is commonly used in patients with autonomic dysreflexia. Here, we report the case of a young woman with a history of autonomic dysreflexia, who presented with a thunderclap headache and was subsequently diagnosed with reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome.