Autonomic cardiovascular dysfunction during simple arithmetic test in a patient with cervical spinal cord injury-a case report

INTRODUCTION: Spinal cord injury (SCI) disrupts autonomic control of the cardiovascular system, which may lead to autonomic dysfunction. Growing amounts of evidence support the possibility that systemic and cerebral hemodynamic dysfunctions may contribute to cognitive deficits in patients with SCI. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of autonomic cardiovascular dysfunction in a 55-year old female patient following nontraumatic cervical SCI. This case illustrates how a simple arithmetic test may elicit fluctuations in blood pressure causing cognitive disturbances. DISCUSSION: Clinical awareness of autonomic dysfunction and cognitive deficits is relevant in neurorehabilitation of patients with SCI. Assessment of autonomic function should be evaluated according to recommendation from International Standards to document remaining Autonomic Function after Spinal Cord Injury (ISAFSCI) [1].