(Stroke. 2000;31:791-a.)
© 2000 American Heart Association, Inc.
Letters to the Editor |
Stroke Unit
Vascular Radiology Department, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain
To the Editor:
We read with interest the recent case report by McCabe et al,1 in which they describe a patient with fatal cerebral reperfusion hemorrhage after internal carotid artery (ICA) stenting. In their interesting discussion, the authors argue that this disastrous complication most likely occurred because cerebral perfusion pressure overwhelmed the vasoconstrictive capacity of the arteriolar circulation. Because a brain CT scan performed before carotid stenting disclosed diffuse patchy leukoaraiosis in the deep white matter, the authors suggest that leukoaraiosis could be a risk factor for reperfusion hemorrhage after carotid stenting. We provide an additional case report of reperfusion injury after carotid stenting that supports the main conclusion of McCabe and colleagues and provides some further understanding of this dreadful complication.
On November, 10, 1999, a 43-year-old right handed man was admitted to
our stroke unit, 2 days after a sudden onset of left-sided facial and
brachial paresis. His past medical record was relevant for a
history of hypertension since the age of 20, with no other
atherosclerotic risk factors or past cerebrovascular events. On
admission, his blood pressure was 150/80 mm Hg and his
neurological exam was normal. A brain CT scan showed a 3.5-cm
ischemic infarction in the right centrum ovale
consistent with acute embolism. An old ischemic lacunar
infarction 10 mm in size was also observed in the genu of the
right internal capsule. Periventricular or brain stem
leukoaraiosis and brain stem lacunar infarctions were absent. A
Doppler ultrasound of the cervical vessels suggested >90%
stenosis
Institute of Neurology University College London The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery London, UK
Department of Neuroradiology Atkinson Morleys Hospital London, UK
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