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Successful treatment for sympathetic storms in a patient with neuro-Behçet’s disease

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Abstract

Sympathetic storms (SyS) are characterized by hyperactivity of autonomic functions, resulting in episodes of hyperthermia, hypertension, tachycardia, and hyperhidrosis. We show here a patient with neuro-Behçet’s disease (NBD) complicated by SyS. Although SyS is well known to occur with brain tumors, trauma, and hydrocephalus, this is the first report to show that SyS is a manifestation of central nervous system involvement in a patient with NBD. High concentrations of norepinephrine (NE) and IL-8 in cerebrospinal fluid reflected the activity of SyS. The patient’s symptoms showed almost complete improvement after treatment with corticosteroids and intravenous cyclophosphamide. Also, the concentrations of NE and IL-8 were decreased to normal levels. An awareness of the potential for SyS and adequate immunosuppressant therapy are of importance when dealing with patients with NBD.

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Correspondence to Yasushi Kawaguchi.

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Gono, T., Murata, M., Kawaguchi, Y. et al. Successful treatment for sympathetic storms in a patient with neuro-Behçet’s disease. Clin Rheumatol 28, 357–359 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-008-1070-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-008-1070-2

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