Jordan W. Squair, Ph.D., Maxime Berney, M.D., Mayte Castro Jimenez, M.D., Nicolas Hankov, M.Sc., Robin Demesmaeker, Ph.D., Suje Amir, M.Sc., Aurelie Paley, M.Sc., Sergio Hernandez-Charpak, M.Sc., Gregory Dumont, Ph.D., Leonie Asboth, Ph.D., Gilles Allenbach, M.D., Fabio Becce, M.D., Patrick Schoettker, M.D., Gregoire Wuerzner, M.D., Julien F. Bally, M.D., Grégoire Courtine, Ph.D., and Jocelyne Bloch, M.D.
Abstract
Orthostatic hypotension is a cardinal feature of multiple-system atrophy. The upright posture provokes syncopal episodes that prevent patients from standing and walking for more than brief periods. We implanted a system to restore regulation of blood pressure and enable a patient with multiple-system atrophy to stand and walk after having lost these abilities because of orthostatic hypotension. This system involved epidural electrical stimulation delivered over the thoracic spinal cord with accelerometers that detected changes in body position. (Funded by the Defitech Foundation.)