Abstract: Objective To explore 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure of patients with cervical spinal cord injury. Methods 42 patients with cervical spinal cord injury and 45 patients with thoracic-lumbar spinal cord injury were included. Their 24-hour ambulatory blood pressures were monitored. Their day systolic blood pressure (dSBP) and day diastolic blood pressure (dDBP) when seating and standing, night SBP and DBP, and SBP descending rate at night were compared. Results There were significant differences in dSBP and dDBP when standing, and SBP descending rate at night between 2 groups (P<0.01). There was significant difference in dSBP between seating and standing position in patients with cervical spinal cord injury (P<0.01). Conclusion There is orthostatic hypotension in cervical spinal cord injury patients and their SBP descending rate at night is upside down.

Key words: cervical spinal cord injury, ambulatory blood pressure, orthostatic hypotension