Hyperreflexia
| Hyperreflexia |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Hyperreflexia suggests an upper motor neuron dysfunction. Hyperreflexia usually has a positive Babinkski's Sign and spasticity. Usually develops over a period of days to weeks (as opposed to immediate presentation)
Causes
Causes In Alphabetical Order. [1] [2]
- Alcohol withdrawal
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
- Anxiety
- Apoplexy
- Athetosis
- Autonomic dystonia
- Brainstem lesions
- Cerebral lesions
- Cervical or thoracic myelopathy
- Compressive myelopathy
- Drugs, toxins
- Electrolyte disorders
- Epidural abscess
- Familial spastic paraparesis
- General paralysis
- Hepatic coma
- Homocystinuria
- Human T-lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) associated myelopathy
- Hydrocephalus
- Hyperbaric liquor pressure
- Hyperthyroidism
- Hypocalcemia
- Infantile diplegia
- Intracranial bleeding
- Lithium overdose
- Maple syrup urine disease
- Meningitis
- Monoamine oxide inhibitor overdose
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Parkinsonism
- Phenylketonuria
- Poliomyelitis
- Primary lateral sclerosis
- Progressive alcoholic dementia
- Rabies
- Serotonin syndrome
- Spastic spinal paralysis
- Spinal cord infarction
- Spinocerebellar ataxia
- Syringobulbia
- Tetanus
- Thyrotoxicosis
Suggested Laboratory Evaluations
- Calcium
- Lithium
- Drug screen
- Magnesium
- DNA testing
- Serologies for:
- HTLV-I
- HIV
- Rapid plasma reagin (RPR)
Electrolyte and Biomarker Studies
MRI and CT
Other Diagnostic Studies
- Cerebrospinal fluid analysis (for suspected multiple sclerosis)
Treatment
- Replace electrolytes
Acute Pharmacotherapies
- Antispasicity agents
- Steroids
- Interferon
- Glatiramer acetate
- Mitoxantrone
- Cyproheptadine
- Antiretroviral therapy
Surgery and Device Based Therapy
- Surgical intervention to relieve compression (in compressive myelopathies)
- Syringomyelia may require surgical therapy
- Some congenital conditions may require surgical intervention