Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation
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Arch Phys Med Rehabil · Jun 2002
ReviewAbrupt withdrawal from intrathecal baclofen: recognition and management of a potentially life-threatening syndrome.
To suggest guidelines for the prevention, recognition, and management of a life-threatening syndrome (high fever, altered mental status, profound muscular rigidity that sometimes progressed to fatal rhabdomyolysis) in patients who experience the abrupt withdrawal of intrathecal baclofen (ITB) therapy. ⋯ Most episodes of severe ITB withdrawal were preventable. Patients at risk can be identified and educated prospectively and given medication for emergency use. Treatment with GABAergic agonist drugs may prevent potentially fatal sequelae.