Transient and repetitive rises in blood pressure synchronized with plasma catecholamine increases after head injury. Report of two cases.

The authors report two patients with repetitive episodes of acute transient rise in blood pressure synchronized with increases in plasma catecholamine after severe head injury. In both cases, the paroxysmal hypertension occurred suddenly on the 2nd day posttrauma, and its frequency declined gradually, disappearing with time. The pathophysiological basis of this peculiar clinical manifestation is discussed.