Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Delayed Diagnosis Of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Presenting As Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia: A Case For Heightened Clinical Suspicion, Diana Acosta Pozo, Luis Álvarez Pérez

Research Colloquium

Background: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by multisystem involvement, including hematologic manifestations. Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia (AIHA), though an established feature, is relatively uncommon and may occur early or in isolation. When AIHA presents without overt systemic symptoms, the underlying autoimmune etiology may be overlooked, resulting in delays in diagnosis and treatment. Prompt recognition is essential to prevent unnecessary interventions and prolonged morbidity.

Case Presentation: A 39-year-old woman residing in Texas presented to the Rheumatology office with persistent synovitis and severe transfusion-dependent anemia, requiring red blood cell transfusions every 48 hours for over three months. She …

Generation Of Functional Hepatocytes From Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells, Daniela Gonzalez, Miriam Aceves, Lorena Guerra, Jose C. Granados, Felicia Juarez, Earl Novilla, Ana C. Leandro, Marcelo Leandro, Joanne E. Curran, John Blangero, Sarah Williams-Blangero, Satish Kumar

Research Colloquium

Background: One of the most common forms of chronic liver disease is nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD is a condition of hepatic steatosis, excess fat accumulation in hepatocytes. It affects about 38% adults worldwide and about 50% adults in the Rio Grande Valley, and is a major risk factor for more serious nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The risk for NAFLD is likely due to a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors. Other metabolic diseases, such as obesity and type 2 diabetes, that have a high prevalence in the Valley, likely contribute to …

Educational Services And Language Congruency In Low-Income Children Who Are Deaf Of Hard-Of-Hearing, Courtney J. Austin, Dylan Chan, Jihyun Stephans

Research Colloquium

Background: Children who are deaf or hard-of-hearing (DHH) are required by United States law to have access to educational services through the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA). However, access to language-congruent providers, as well as supplemental services, varies considerably. Household income is associated with poorer hearing care access and outcomes in DHH children. We predict that access to supplemental, language-congruent DHH services is poorer in DHH children from lower-income homes.

Methods: This is a secondary, ad hoc exploratory study of DHH children aged 0-27 months enrolled in a randomized clinical trial (CT.gov: NCT04928209). Children were enrolled across all …

A Puzzling Case Of Visual Disturbances Leads To A Fatal Neurodegenerative Diagnosis, Courtney J. Austin, Aaron Carrillo, Jennifer Rojas Huen, Victoria Parada

Research Colloquium

Background: Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a rare neurodegenerative disease in which early diagnosis is complicated by the presence of early non-specific and atypical presentations. Sporadic CJD (sCJD), the most common type of CJD, is caused by the spread of a disease-forming prion known as PrPSc. PrPSc multiplies and binds to the normal form of prion, or PrP, converting it to an abnormal, structurally altered disease form that spreads throughout the brain. sCJD can initially present with six different phenotypes: cognitive, affective, classic, visual (Heidenhain variant), atactic (Oppenheimer-Brownell variant), and indeterminate. The classic presentation of CJD includes rapidly progressive dementia with …

When The Hitts Keep Coming: A Case Of Takatsubo Cardiomyopathy Triggered By Delivering A New Diagnosis Of Multiple Myeloma, Corey Haines, Yareli Durazo, Tatiana Dacak, Bharat K. Peddinani, Nida Asif

Research Colloquium

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM), or stress-induced cardiomyopathy, is a transient condition often triggered by acute emotional or physical stress, typically presenting with chest pain, elevated cardiac biomarkers, and electrocardiographic changes mimicking acute coronary syndrome, but without obstructive coronary artery disease. We report the case of an 80-year-old male who developed TCM following the emotional stress of a new multiple myeloma diagnosis. His hospital course was complicated by acute heart failure, cardiogenic shock, and likely heparin-induced thrombocytopenia. Despite a critical ICU stay requiring mechanical ventilation, diuresis, and dialysis initiation, the patient’s cardiac function partially recovered. This case highlights the severe physiologic impact …

From Venom To Medicine: Harnessing Animal Toxins For Drug Discovery, Christine Vega, Ying Jia

Research Colloquium

Background: Drug development research has long focused on synthesizing novel therapeutics while overlooking isolation from naturally available sources such as animal venoms. Recently, the discovery of the therapeutic effects of highly bioavailable animal venom caused the field of venom research to soar in popularity. Animal venom serves as a natural, sophisticated tool optimized over millions of years by evolution with the ability to bind to ion channels such as nAChRs, non-specific ligand-gated ion channels distributed throughout the human nervous system. However, purifying individual venom toxins from crude venom is challenging due to its availability. Therefore, synthesizing large quantities of venom …

Material Hardship And Postpartum Depression: The Moderating Role Of Social Support Across Family Structures, Christine Pham, Chantal Uzoma, Monica Perez

Research Colloquium

Background: Economic hardship is a significant risk factor for postpartum depression (PPD), a condition with lasting impacts on maternal and child well-being (Agrawal et al., 2022). Although social support is theorized to buffer stress, little is known about whether its protective effects on PPD differ by family structure (Wang et al., 2023).

Objective: The objective of the current study is to examine whether higher social support moderates the association between material hardship and postpartum depression among new mothers and whether this relationship varies across marital status groups (married, cohabiting, single).

Methods: Data will be drawn from Wave 1 of the …

Optimizing Antibiotic Stewardship In Pneumonia: Evidence-Based Protocols For Enhanced Treatment And Resistance Reduction In A University-Affiliated Community Hospital, Carlos Luis Alejos, Jennifer Rojas Huen, Joan Beatrice Capellan, Ricardo Serna, Tejaswini Swamy, Jose Campo Maldonado

Research Colloquium

Introduction: National guidelines recommend early, targeted diagnostics such as respiratory viral panels, procalcitonin testing, Methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) nasal swabs, and sputum cultures, for the effective management of pneumonia. However, our retrospective review at a university-affiliated community hospital revealed inconsistent application of these tools. These may contribute to excessive use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, higher costs, and increased antimicrobial resistance. The reason is that we aim to implement a standardized pneumonia order set in the electronic medical record (EMR) to improve diagnostic accuracy and antibiotic stewardship.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of adult inpatients admitted with community-acquired, hospital-acquired, …

The Price Of Copper: Unmasking Wilson’S Disease, Blake C. Martin, Stephen M. Garcia, Aun A. Bangash, Matthew Peynado, Jose Campo Maldonado

Research Colloquium

Background: This case highlights the diagnostic challenge of acute liver failure in a young adult initially presumed to have alcoholic hepatitis. Wilson disease, a rare but treatable cause of hepatic decompensation, must be considered, particularly in younger individuals with a suggestive biochemical profile and family history. The novelty of this case lies in the evolving diagnostic shift from alcohol-related liver disease to Wilson disease, underscoring the critical importance of comprehensive etiologic evaluation.

Case Presentation: A 28-year-old male with no known medical history presented with jaundice, abdominal pain, and systemic symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, and RUQ tenderness. He reported heavy alcohol …

The Link Between Pre-Existing Medical Conditions And Knee Meniscus Tear And Repair In Medically Underserved Community, Blake C. Martin, Manoj Peiris, Michael D. Sander

Research Colloquium

Introduction: Menisci function primarily in shock absorption and load transmission and can be torn, in isolation or concomitantly, via various activities. Our primary objective in this study was to analyze patients in the unique RGV community with various pre-existing medical conditions and determine if there was an association with the odds of having knee meniscus tear and repair surgery.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review using the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) UTHealth electronic database utilizing medical charts during the period January 1, 2018, to January 1, 2025. We collected and analyzed medical charts of individuals …

The Association Between Pre-Existing Medical Conditions And Trigger Finger Release In A Medically Underserved Region, Blake C. Martin, Manoj Peiris, Michael D. Sander

Research Colloquium

Background: Trigger finger is a relatively common condition that may affect daily activities. The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) is a health professional shortage area with a unique patient population. Our primary objective in this study was to analyze patients with various pre-existing medical conditions and determine if there was an association with the risk of trigger finger release surgery.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review using the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) UTHealth electronic database utilizing medical charts from January 1, 2018, to January 1, 2025. We collected and analyzed medical charts of patients who were diagnosed …

Chronic Conditions And Osteoporosis Risk: Insights From Penalized Logistic Modeling, Blake C. Martin, Juan Lopez Alvarenga

Research Colloquium

Background: The Rio Grande Valley (RGV) is a rural area with underserved, unique communities that may influence the health of the population. The primary objective of this study was to analyze factors associated with osteoporosis in individuals in the RGV to determine if the number of pre-existing medical conditions had an association with the frequency of osteoporosis. We hypothesized that individuals with more pre-existing medical conditions would be associated with an increased frequency of osteoporosis.

Methods: This study was a retrospective chart review from January 1, 2018, to January 1, 2025, using the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) …

The South Texas Center Of Excellence In Cancer Research Core Facilities, Bianca Jimenez, Joel De Los Santos, Lindsey Shim, Iris Enriquez, Subhash Chauhan, Murali Yallapu

Research Colloquium

Background: The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley-School of Medicine (UTRGV-SOM) has founded the South Texas Centre of Excellence in Cancer Research to address disproportionate cancer related health issues in the Valley. UTRGV-SOM established an Integrated Cancer Research Core (ICRC, CPRIT/UT System), Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine Core (DDNC, CPRIT), and Research Capacity (RCMI) Facilities at the UTRGV campus to provide cutting-edge technologies to support cancer research investigators of the Rio Grande Valley. The ICRC will house technologies like Flow Cytometry, CyTOF, Image Stream Flow, Droplet Digital PCR, molecular and microPET/CT imaging. Our expertise and focus on this presentation will be …

Synthesis Of Various Flavonoids For Effective Anti-Immune Thrombocytopenia Agents, Benjamin Valdivia, Alyssa Aguilar, Victoria Herrera, Shizue Mito

Research Colloquium

Background: Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a hematological disorder characterized by abnormally low platelet counts, often resulting in increased bleeding risk and impaired immune function. Current therapies may be costly, ineffective, or carry significant side effects, highlighting the need for safer, affordable alternatives. Carica papaya leaf extract has shown promise in increasing platelet counts, with flavonoids such as quercetin suggested as key bioactive constituents. However, unmodified plant compounds often suffer from limited potency or specificity. This research aims to synthesize structurally modified flavonoids derived from C. papaya to enhance their therapeutic activity for ITP. Our central hypothesis is that rational chemical …

The Intersection Of Obesity And Breast Cancer In South Texas: Clinical Implications And Regional Disparities, Aura M. C. Calderon, Ivan Mogollon, Luis Salcedo, Jose Loayza, Diane Nguyen

Research Colloquium

Introduction: Breast cancer continues to be the most frequently identified malignancy among females in both Texas and the broader United States. Although South Texas presents a marginally diminished incidence rate overall, the area persists in confronting significant disparities in terms of disease burden and health outcomes. These discrepancies are particularly pronounced among Hispanic women residing in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV), who encounter heightened probabilities of receiving diagnoses at advanced stages despite a lower general incidence rate. Structural inequities, such as restricted access to healthcare services, socioeconomic deprivation, and inadequate health literacy, interact with obesity-associated biological risk factors, thereby engendering …

Progressive Pulmonary Sarcoidosis In A Young Adult Mimicking Miliary Tuberculosis: A Case Report And Literature Review, Aura M. C. Calderon, Luis Salcedo, Ivan Mogollon, Francisco Arias, Juan Pablo Gomez

Research Colloquium

Introduction: Pulmonary sarcoidosis can pose considerable diagnostic challenges, particularly in young adults hailing from regions endemic to tuberculosis (TB), wherein radiographic manifestations may closely mimic those of miliary TB. This case underscores the necessity of sustaining an extensive differential diagnosis and accentuates the critical role of histological verification in the assessment of diffuse pulmonary micronodular infiltrates, especially in instances where the infectious workup yields negative results.

Case Report: A 26-year-old male from the Democratic Republic of Congo, with no significant medical history, presented with a 10–12 month history of chronic dry cough and exertional dyspnea. He denied fever, weight loss, …

Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (Pres) Secondary To B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: A Case Report, Aura M. C. Calderon, Luis Salcedo, Ivan Mogollon, Jeyilis Carmona, Juan Pablo Gomez

Research Colloquium

Background: Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES) represents a rare and potentially reversible neurotoxic disorder, distinguished by the presence of acute neurological manifestations and vasogenic edema, frequently detected through neuroimaging techniques. Although traditionally linked to hypertensive crises, renal insufficiency, and cytotoxic therapies, a growing body of evidence suggests that hematological malignancies, specifically acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), should be regarded as an independent risk factor.

Case Presentation: A 73-year-old Hispanic female with a medical history significant for hypertension, type 2 diabetes mellitus, end-stage renal disease requiring hemodialysis, and Parkinson’s disease presented with a progressive decline in strength and altered cognitive status. Upon …

Cervical Cancer Disparities In Hispanic Women: A Multilevel Analysis Using Seer And Texas State Data, Aura M. C. Calderon, Ivan Mogollon, Shubhank Goyal, Jose Loayza, Everardo Cobos, Diane Nguyen

Research Colloquium

Background: Cervical carcinoma continues to exert a disproportionate burden on Hispanic women within the United States, notably in jurisdictions such as Texas, where individuals of Hispanic descent constitute more than 40% of the demographic populace. Notwithstanding progress in screening methodologies and preventive measures, considerable disparities persist in incidence rates, mortality figures, and survival outcomes when assessed through the lens of racial and ethnic stratifications.

Objective: To examine and visually communicate disparities in cervical cancer burden among Hispanic women through a combination of national survival data and Texas state-level incidence and mortality statistics.

Methods: Publicly accessible datasets were employed from the …

Case Report: Familial Hypomagnesemia In A Patient With History Of Hodgkin Lymphoma, Aura M. C. Calderon, Ivan Mogollon, Catherine Matos, Jose Loayza, Everardo Cobos

Research Colloquium

Introduction: Magnesium constitutes an essential electrolyte integral to the functioning of neuromuscular systems, the regulation of cardiovascular parameters, and the facilitation of metabolic processes. Chronic hypomagnesemia may precipitate significant complications, including the onset of arrhythmias and seizures. In cases where hypomagnesemia is refractory to supplementation and manifests in multiple family members, a hereditary tubulopathy, such as Gitelman syndrome (GS), warrants consideration. Gitelman syndrome is classified as an autosomal recessive disorder, resulting from mutations in the SLC12A3 gene, which impairs the thiazide-sensitive sodium-chloride cotransporter located in the distal convoluted tubule.

Case Presentation: A 39-year-old female with a history of classical Hodgkin …

Case Report: Clonidine Withdrawal-Induced Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (Pres), Aura M. C. Calderon, Francisco Arias, Ivan Mogollon, Luis Salcedo, Hector Arredondo

Research Colloquium

Introduction: Clonidine, an agonist of central α2-adrenergic and imidazoline receptors, possesses the capacity to elicit transient episodes of hypertension succeeded by hypotension and bradycardia. This particular case underscores a rare yet significant complication, Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome (PRES), that can occur subsequent to the abrupt cessation of clonidine administration.

Case Presentation: An 18-year-old male with severe asthma and prior ICU admissions presented to the emergency department after two seizures. He had recently been treated for an asthma exacerbation complicated by hypertension, for which clonidine was initiated. He was discharged on clonidine and prednisone but discontinued clonidine the day before admission …

Think Beyond Migraine: A Case Of Transverse Venous Stenosis Masquerading As A Common Headache, Tejaswini Swamy, Aun A. Bangash, Chloe C. Harris, Victoria Parada

Research Colloquium

Introduction: Headache is a common complaint in clinical medicine, but when it is persistent, orthostatic in nature, and unresponsive to conservative therapy, it warrants evaluation for less common etiologies. This case highlights a compelling diagnostic journey involving intracranial hypertension secondary to transverse venous sinus stenosis (TVSS)—a condition that can be under-recognized, especially in patients without classic risk factors or overt imaging abnormalities. Here, a seemingly benign symptom masked a reversible cause of debilitating headaches, unmasked only through careful clinical suspicion and escalation to advanced neuroimaging. Most importantly, it reminds us that in patients with persistent symptoms, we must look beyond …

Norovirus Gastroenteritis Presenting With Intractable Vomiting, Starvation Ketosis, And Hypertensive Emergency: A Case Highlighting Diagnostic And Infection Control Implications, Aun A. Bangash, Blake C. Martin, Stephen M. Garcia, Gesler Madhere, Jose E. Campo Maldonado

Research Colloquium

Background: Norovirus is the most common cause of viral gastroenteritis in adults worldwide, yet its vomiting-dominant presentation is often under-recognized, particularly outside outbreak settings. This case is significant due to both the severity of presentation—including starvation ketosis and hypertensive emergency—and the infection control implications within the healthcare environment. Norovirus’s high transmissibility and environmental resilience necessitate heightened clinical awareness, even in isolated cases.

Case Presentation: A 43-year-old male with peripheral arterial disease, uncontrolled hypertension, and alcohol use disorder presented with over 20 episodes of vomiting, right-sided abdominal pain, and shortness of breath. He denied diarrhea and had a known sick contact …

Ethical Issues Involved In Solid Organ Xenotransplantation., Daniel J Hurst, Chris Bobier, Luz A Padilla

Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine Departmental Research

Xenotransplantation (specifically, genetically modified pig-to-human transplant of organs, tissues, or cells) clinical trials are set to begin in the United States after decades of pre-clinical studies and recent decedent and compassionate use investigations. This article provides a primer on the key ethical issues attendant with this emerging therapy. We explore four central areas of concern: (i) the use of animals to meet human transplant needs, as well as their welfare since they are housed in non-natural conditions, (ii) the risk of infectious disease transfer from the porcine graft to the human recipient, known as xenozoonosis, (iii) patient selection criteria for …

Clinical Pharmacokinetics, Pharmacodynamics, And Drug Interactions Of Remimazolam, Derek E. Murrell, Sam Harirforoosh

Pharmacy Faculty Articles and Research

Remimazolam, an ultrashort-acting benzodiazepine, has emerged as a promising sedative agent for procedural sedation and general anesthesia. It combines the favorable properties of traditional benzodiazepines with a rapid onset and offset of action, largely due to its unique metabolism via hepatic carboxylesterases rather than cytochrome P450 enzymes. This metabolism allows for predictable pharmacokinetics, reducing the risk of prolonged sedation and drug accumulation, particularly in patients with hepatic or renal impairment. Clinically, remimazolam demonstrates non-inferiority to midazolam and propofol, with advantages including a lower incidence of hypotension and respiratory depression. Multiple randomized controlled trials have shown its efficacy in various procedural …

Perceived Knowledge And Confidence Of Beta-Lactam Allergy Management Among Pharmacy Students On Advanced Pharmacy Practice Experiences., Jamie L Wagner, David R Oliver, Bruce M Jones, Kayla R Stover, Misha T Watts, Wesley D Kufel, Lena Mcdowell, Edo-Abasi U. Mcgee, T Lynn Stevenson, Christopher M Bland

PCOM Scholarly Works

Pharmacist engagement in allergy clarification has demonstrated increased appropriate antibiotic use. The purpose of this study was to determine the knowledge and confidence of pharmacy students in their final professional year regarding beta-lactam (BL) allergies. Students from 5 schools of pharmacy participated in a 22-question survey pertaining to experience with drug allergies, knowledge of BL allergies, and confidence regarding BL allergy management. Data were summarized among all respondents and further analyzed by infectious disease (ID) interest. A total of 160/521 students responded to the survey (31%). Most students (73%) had no course dedicated to drug allergies; however, 84% indicated the …

A Case Study Of Long-Term Disease Burden In A Rural Community Near An Open Burn Facility, Arundhati Bakshi, Liana Baconguis, Md Abdullah Al-Mamun, Qingzhao Yu, Jennifer Richmond-Bryant, Stephania A. Cormier

School of Public Health Faculty Publications

Open burning and open detonation (OB/OD) of explosive and hazardous wastes creates various toxic waste products, including particulate matter, that is released into the atmosphere and capable of generating significant health impacts upon exposure. The last commercially run OB/OD thermal treatment facility in operation in the United States is located near the rural community of Colfax in central Louisiana. To evaluate the community’s concerns about the potential health impacts from air pollution due to the facility’s regular open burning of explosive and hazardous wastes, we examined the disease burden in Colfax compared to the surrounding parish and state. In a …

Can Handoffs Bridge The Interprofessional Divide To Build A Team?, Aubrey Samost-Williams, Eric J Thomas

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

No abstract provided.

The Impact Of Cage Position, Radiographic Parameters, And Hounsfield Units On Subsidence Rate After One To Three Level Anterior Cervical Discectomy And Fusion, Jarod Olson, Jonathan Dalton, Omar H. Tarawneh, Rajkishen Narayanan, Alec Giakas, Rachel Huang, Joydeep Baidya, Robert J. Oris, Joshua Mathew, William A. Green, Nicholas B. Pohl, Anthony Labarbiera, Benjamin Crain, Nathaniel Pineda, Joseph Rajasekaran, Gordon Hua, Mark F. Kurd, Jeffrey A. Rihn, Jose A. Canseco, Alan S. Hilibrand, Alex R. Vaccaro, Christopher K Kepler, Gregory D. Schroeder

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Faculty Papers

STUDY DESIGN: The study design was a retrospective cohort.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to validate the relationship between Hounsfield units (HU) and subsidence, including multilevel anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). Cage/graft subsidence commonly occurs after ACDF. Prior work on 1-level ACDF found increased subsidence rates in patients with lower HUs.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Adults who underwent 1-3 level ACDF at a tertiary center and had preoperative computed tomography scans were included (2018-2022). HUs were assessed ~5 mm caudal to the superior endplate. Six-month postoperative radiographs were evaluated for cage/graft positioning, screw loosening, and subsidence. Receiver operating …

Rapid Mapping Of Spinal And Supraspinal Connectome Via Self-Targeting Glucose-Based Carbon Dots, Yasin B. Seven, Elif S. Seven, Emel Kirbas Cilingir, Komal Parikh, Mehmet Aydin, Edward K. Luca, Jayakrishnan Nair, Roger M. Leblanc

Department of Physical Therapy Faculty Papers

The spinal cord is a highly dynamic network, playing significant roles in the vital functions of the brain. Disorders of the spinal cord, such as spinal cord injury and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), are associated with neurodegeneration, often resulting in morbidity and mortality. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) poses a major challenge to imaging and therapeutic agents because less than 2% of small-molecule drugs and almost no large-molecule drugs can cross the BBB. Furthermore, spatial spectroscopy studies have shown highly heterogeneous BBB crossing with significant accumulation at the unintended brain regions. Thus, targeting systems that can cross the BBB at the …

Early Blood Pressure Targets In Acute Spinal Cord Injury: A Randomized Clinical Trial, Ruba Sajdeya, N. David Yanez, Michael Kampp, Michael D. Goodman, David Zonies, Brandon Togioka, Andrew Nunn, Robert D. Winfield, Niels D. Martin, Anirudh Kohli, Toan T. Huynh, David O. Okonkwo, Roy A. Poblete, Emily J. Gilmore, Randall M. Chesnut, Aaron E. Bunnell, Tetsu Ohnuma, Mona Hashemaghaie, Miriam M. Treggiari

Department of Surgery Faculty Papers

IMPORTANCE: Early blood pressure management is central to neurologic resuscitation of spinal cord injury; however, the role of augmented blood pressure is unclear.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the efficacy and safety of augmented vs conventional blood pressure on 6-month neurologic outcomes after acute spinal cord injury.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This multicenter randomized clinical trial took place from October 3, 2017, to July 26, 2023, and assessed patients 18 years or older with spinal cord injury followed up for 6 months at 13 large US trauma centers.

INTERVENTIONS: Patients were equally randomized to augmented (>85-90 mm Hg) or conventional ( …