Mecamylamine for Autonomic Dysreflexia Prophylaxis

Summary

This is a preliminary study of the antihypertensive drug mecamylamine, used in the specific circumstance of hypertension caused by autonomic dysreflexia (AD), a condition that affects people with spinal cord injury (SCI). Initially, mild sensory stimulation of subjects' legs is used to intentionally provoke AD, as reflected by blood pressure elevation during such stimulation. In subsequent testing sessions, mecamylamine is given prior to sensory stimulation, to show the effect of the drug on preventing these AD-related blood pressure elevations.

Timeline

Start

2019-06-13

Primary completion

2020-03-17

Completion

2020-12-31

Publications

• Background Braddom RL, Johnson EW. Mecamylamine in control of hyperreflexia. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1969 Aug;50(8):448-53 passim. No abstract available.
• Background Braddom RL, Rocco JF. Autonomic dysreflexia. A survey of current treatment. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 1991 Oct;70(5):234-41.
• Background Eldahan KC, Rabchevsky AG. Autonomic dysreflexia after spinal cord injury: Systemic pathophysiology and methods of management. Auton Neurosci. 2018 Jan;209:59-70. doi: 10.1016/j.autneu.2017.05.002. Epub 2017 May 8.
• Background Groothuis JT, Rongen GA, Deinum J, Pickkers P, Danser AH, Geurts AC, Smits P, Hopman MT. Sympathetic nonadrenergic transmission contributes to autonomic dysreflexia in spinal cord-injured individuals. Hypertension. 2010 Mar;55(3):636-43. doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.109.147330. Epub 2010 Jan 25.

Drugs

Indications