Cholinergic crisis

Cholinergic Crisis

Cholinergic crisis (pronunciation: koh-lin-ER-jik KRY-sis) is a medical condition that is characterized by an overstimulation of the nervous system due to an excess of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter in the body.

Etymology

The term "cholinergic" is derived from the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. "Choline" is a component of acetylcholine, and "-ergic" is a suffix used in neurology that refers to the action or orientation of a nerve. "Crisis" is a term used in medicine to denote a turning point in a disease.

Symptoms

Symptoms of a cholinergic crisis can include salivation, lacrimation, urination, defecation, gastrointestinal upset, and emesis (SLUDGE syndrome). Other symptoms can include miosis (constricted pupils), bradycardia (slow heart rate), bronchospasm (constriction of the airways), and increased sweating.

Causes

A cholinergic crisis can be caused by certain medications, such as those used to treat myasthenia gravis, a neuromuscular disease. It can also be caused by exposure to certain pesticides or nerve gases that inhibit acetylcholinesterase, an enzyme that breaks down acetylcholine in the body.

Treatment

Treatment for a cholinergic crisis typically involves discontinuing the medication or exposure that caused the condition. In some cases, medications that inhibit acetylcholine, such as atropine, may be used.

Related Terms

• Acetylcholine
• Acetylcholinesterase
• Atropine
• Bradycardia
• Bronchospasm
• Myasthenia gravis
• Miosis
• Nervous system
• Neurotransmitter
• SLUDGE syndrome

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Cholinergic crisis
• Wikipedia's article - Cholinergic crisis

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