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Stroke, Vol 22, 1437-1439, Copyright © 1991 by American Heart Association

ARTICLES

Cerebral vasculitis associated with cocaine abuse

RK Fredericks, DS Lefkowitz, VR Challa and BT Troost
Department of Neurology, Bowman Gray School of Medicine of Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC 27103.

BACKGROUND: Earlier reports of cocaine-associated cerebral vasculitis have been based primarily on angiographic findings without pathological verification. CASE DESCRIPTION: We present a case of acute encephalopathy following intravenous and intranasal administration of cocaine. Brain biopsy revealed vascular changes involving primarily small arteries. Findings included lymphocytic infiltration, endothelial thickening, and deposition of proteinaceous amorphous material within and around vessel walls. CONCLUSIONS: These abnormalities are consistent with pathological features of arteritis previously reported in association with amphetamine and multiple-drug abuse. Vasospasm- induced changes are an alternative explanation for the vascular picture seen in this case. The patient made modest improvement with high-dose intravenous steroids.

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