Malignant vagotonia due to selective baroreflex failure

Hypertension. 1997 Nov;30(5):1072-7. doi: 10.1161/01.hyp.30.5.1072.

Abstract

Baroreflex failure is characterized by dramatic fluctuations of sympathetic activity and paroxysms of hypertension and tachycardia. In contrast, unopposed parasympathetic activity has not been described in patients with baroreflex failure because of concurrent parasympathetic denervation of the heart. We describe the unusual case of a patient with baroreflex failure in a setting of preserved parasympathetic control of HR manifesting episodes of severe bradycardia and asystole. Thus, parasympathetic control of the HR may be intact in occasional patients with baroreflex failure. Patients with this selective baroreflex failure require a unique therapeutic strategy for the control of disease manifestations.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Baroreflex / physiology*
  • Blood Pressure / physiology
  • Bradycardia / etiology
  • Bradycardia / physiopathology
  • Female
  • Head-Down Tilt / physiology
  • Heart Rate / physiology
  • Humans
  • Hypotension / etiology
  • Hypotension / physiopathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Nervous System Diseases / etiology
  • Nervous System Diseases / physiopathology
  • Norepinephrine / blood
  • Parasympathetic Nervous System / physiopathology
  • Stimulation, Chemical
  • Supine Position / physiology
  • Vagus Nerve / physiopathology*
  • Valsalva Maneuver / physiology

Substances

  • Norepinephrine