Hyperhidrosis in Two Patients with Spinal Cord Injury Treated with Oxybutynin: Case Reports and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Hyperhidrosis is a well-documented consequence of spinal cord injuries (SCI). It affects about 25% of the subjects with SCI representing a social problem, a cause of discomfort and a risk for skin breakdown. Here we present two cases of young subjects with a complete spinal cord lesion at thoracic level, who complained of abnormal sweating. In both patients other possible causes of hyperhidrosis were ruled out. Both subjects were put on pharmacological therapy with oral oxybutynin with immediate relief of the sweating. Although oxybutynin is a very well-known drug in the field of SCI and in the field of idiopathic hyperhidrosis, this is the first time that oxybutynin efficacy in abnormal sweating after SCI has been demonstrated.