Hyperreflexia, Brisk Reflexes

CLINICAL DIAGNOSTIC MANUAL

Hyperreflexia, also known as brisk reflexes, is a condition in which deep tendon reflexes are excessively increased. This exaggerated reflex response can be a sign of a disturbance in the central nervous system, particularly in the upper motor pathways such as the pyramidal tract.

Hyperreflexia may indicate various neurological and systemic pathologies, and its identification is crucial for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Pathology	Clinical Symptoms and Signs	Suspected Diagnosis	Confirmatory Diagnosis
Thyrotoxicosis	Hyperreflexia, tachycardia, weight loss, heat intolerance, fine tremor, irritability	Medical history, physical examination, signs of hyperthyroidism	Thyroid function tests (TSH, free T4)
Upper pyramidal tract lesion	Hyperreflexia, spasticity, muscle weakness, Babinski sign, clonus	Medical history, neurological examination, signs of upper motor neuron lesion	Brain MRI, brain CT
Contralateral pyramidal tract lesion	Hyperreflexia, spasticity, contralateral weakness, loss of fine motor skills	Medical history, neurological examination, signs of upper motor neuron lesion	Brain MRI, brain CT