Biomaterial Database

Vascular abnormalities in acute reflex sympathetic dystrophy (CRPS I): complete inhibition of sympathetic nerve activity with recovery. 1999

G Wasner, and K Heckmann, and C Maier, and R Baron

Neurology Clinic, Christian-Albrechts-Universität Kiel, Germany.

BACKGROUND Reflex sympathetic dystrophy/complex regional pain syndrome type I (RSD/CRPS I) is a painful neuropathic disorder that may develop as a disproportionate consequence of a trauma affecting the limbs without overt nerve injury. Clinical features are spontaneous pain, hyperalgesia, impairment of motor function, swelling, changes in sweating, and vascular abnormalities. OBJECTIVE To investigate pathophysiological mechanisms of vascular abnormalities in RSD/CRPS I. METHODS Case study. METHODS Autonomic test laboratory at a university hospital. METHODS A patient with an early stage of RSD/ CRPS I of the upper limb and 2 healthy control subjects. METHODS Cutaneous sympathetic vasoconstrictor innervation was assessed by measuring cutaneous blood flow (laser Doppler flowmetry) and skin temperature (infrared thermometry). To quantify sympathetic vasoconstrictor function, phasic (induced by deep inspiration) and tonic (induced by controlled thermoregulation) sympathetic reflexes were analyzed. Venous norepinephrine levels were determined bilaterally. The same tests were performed in the controls after induction of cutaneous antidromic vasodilation produced by histamine dihydrochloride application. METHODS Sympathetic cutaneous vasoconstrictor function in RSD/CRPS 1. RESULTS Two weeks after the onset of RSD/CRPS I, skin temperature on the affected side was higher (close to core body temperature) than on the contralateral side at room temperature and during controlled thermoregulation, indicating maximal vasodilation. Phasic and tonic stimulation of cutaneous vasoconstrictor neurons did not induce a decrease of skin blood flow or temperature on the affected side but were normal on the contralateral side. Venous norepinephrine levels were lower on the affected side. Parallel to clinical improvement, loss of vasoconstrictor function completely recovered within weeks. Results of investigations in healthy subjects ruled out the possibility that antidromic vasodilation caused by activation of nociceptive afferents is responsible for the complete depression of sympathetic vasoconstrictor reflexes. CONCLUSIONS Demonstrated for the first time is a complete functional loss of cutaneous sympathetic vasoconstrictor activity in an early stage of RSD/CRPS I with recovery. The origin of this autonomic dysfunction is in the central nervous system.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D009431	Neural Conduction	The propagation of the NERVE IMPULSE along the nerve away from the site of an excitation stimulus.	Nerve Conduction,Conduction, Nerve,Conduction, Neural,Conductions, Nerve,Conductions, Neural,Nerve Conductions,Neural Conductions
D009638	Norepinephrine	Precursor of epinephrine that is secreted by the ADRENAL MEDULLA and is a widespread central and autonomic neurotransmitter. Norepinephrine is the principal transmitter of most postganglionic sympathetic fibers, and of the diffuse projection system in the brain that arises from the LOCUS CERULEUS. It is also found in plants and is used pharmacologically as a sympathomimetic.	Levarterenol,Levonorepinephrine,Noradrenaline,Arterenol,Levonor,Levophed,Levophed Bitartrate,Noradrenaline Bitartrate,Noradrénaline tartrate renaudin,Norepinephrin d-Tartrate (1:1),Norepinephrine Bitartrate,Norepinephrine Hydrochloride,Norepinephrine Hydrochloride, (+)-Isomer,Norepinephrine Hydrochloride, (+,-)-Isomer,Norepinephrine d-Tartrate (1:1),Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:1),Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:1), (+,-)-Isomer,Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:1), Monohydrate,Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:1), Monohydrate, (+)-Isomer,Norepinephrine l-Tartrate (1:2),Norepinephrine l-Tartrate, (+)-Isomer,Norepinephrine, (+)-Isomer,Norepinephrine, (+,-)-Isomer
D012019	Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy	A syndrome characterized by severe burning pain in an extremity accompanied by sudomotor, vasomotor, and trophic changes in bone without an associated specific nerve injury. This condition is most often precipitated by trauma to soft tissue or nerve complexes. The skin over the affected region is usually erythematous and demonstrates hypersensitivity to tactile stimuli and erythema. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p1360; Pain 1995 Oct;63(1):127-33)	Algodystrophy,Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, Type I,Pain Syndrome Type I, Regional, Complex,Shoulder-Hand Syndrome,Sudek Atrophy,Algodystrophic Syndrome,CRPS Type I,Cervical Sympathetic Dystrophy,Pain Syndrome Type I, Complex Regional,RSD (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy),Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome,Sudek's Atrophy,Sympathetic Reflex Dystrophia,Syndrome, Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy,Type I Complex Regional Pain Syndrome,Algodystrophies,Atrophies, Sudek's,Atrophy, Sudek,Atrophy, Sudek's,CRPS Type Is,Cervical Sympathetic Dystrophies,Dystrophies, Cervical Sympathetic,Dystrophies, Reflex Sympathetic,Dystrophy, Cervical Sympathetic,Dystrophy, Reflex Sympathetic,RSDs (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy),Reflex Dystrophia, Sympathetic,Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophies,Shoulder Hand Syndrome,Shoulder-Hand Syndromes,Sudek's Atrophies,Sudeks Atrophy,Sympathetic Dystrophies, Cervical,Sympathetic Dystrophies, Reflex,Sympathetic Dystrophy, Cervical,Sympathetic Dystrophy, Reflex,Sympathetic Reflex Dystrophias,Syndrome, Algodystrophic,Syndrome, Shoulder-Hand,Syndromes, Shoulder-Hand,Type I, CRPS
D012039	Regional Blood Flow	The flow of BLOOD through or around an organ or region of the body.	Blood Flow, Regional,Blood Flows, Regional,Flow, Regional Blood,Flows, Regional Blood,Regional Blood Flows
D001833	Body Temperature Regulation	The processes of heating and cooling that an organism uses to control its temperature.	Heat Loss,Thermoregulation,Regulation, Body Temperature,Temperature Regulation, Body,Body Temperature Regulations,Heat Losses,Loss, Heat,Losses, Heat,Regulations, Body Temperature,Temperature Regulations, Body,Thermoregulations
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001341	Autonomic Nervous System	The ENTERIC NERVOUS SYSTEM; PARASYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM; and SYMPATHETIC NERVOUS SYSTEM taken together. Generally speaking, the autonomic nervous system regulates the internal environment during both peaceful activity and physical or emotional stress. Autonomic activity is controlled and integrated by the CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM, especially the HYPOTHALAMUS and the SOLITARY NUCLEUS, which receive information relayed from VISCERAL AFFERENTS.	Vegetative Nervous System,Visceral Nervous System,Autonomic Nervous Systems,Nervous System, Autonomic,Nervous System, Vegetative,Nervous System, Visceral,Nervous Systems, Autonomic,Nervous Systems, Vegetative,Nervous Systems, Visceral,System, Autonomic Nervous,System, Vegetative Nervous,System, Visceral Nervous,Systems, Autonomic Nervous,Systems, Vegetative Nervous,Systems, Visceral Nervous,Vegetative Nervous Systems,Visceral Nervous Systems
D012867	Skin	The outer covering of the body that protects it from the environment. It is composed of the DERMIS and the EPIDERMIS.