Delayed ischemic stroke associated with methamphetamine use

J Emerg Med. 2005 Feb;28(2):165-7. doi: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2004.06.015.

Abstract

A 19-year-old woman had right occipital infarction 3 months after she had injected methamphetamine. No other possible causes of stroke could be found in this case. Magnetic resonance angiography revealed beading of the right posterior cerebral artery, which suggested vasculitis. Her symptoms were right-sided headache, left superior quadrant hemianopia, and left hypesthesia, which gradually improved without any treatment. Methamphetamine has been known to cause hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke relatively soon after administration. We report here that methamphetamine may also cause chronic cerebral vasculitis and delayed ischemic stroke.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Emergency Medicine / methods
  • Female
  • Headache / chemically induced
  • Headache / therapy
  • Hemianopsia / chemically induced
  • Humans
  • Hypesthesia / chemically induced
  • Illicit Drugs / adverse effects*
  • Methamphetamine / poisoning*
  • Stroke / chemically induced*
  • Stroke / diagnosis*
  • Stroke / therapy
  • Substance-Related Disorders / complications*
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Illicit Drugs
  • Methamphetamine