Occurrence of stroke associated with use/abuse of drugs.
Ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke frequently occur in temporal association with use or abuse of illicit and over-the-counter (OTC) sympathomimetic drugs. However, little information is available on the proportion of strokes associated with use/abuse of drugs in specific hospital populations. Between September 1, 1988, and August 1, 1989, 167 of 178 stroke patients entered into the Maryland Stroke Data Bank were asked for a history of drug use or abuse. Information was incomplete in 51 of 167 (31%) patients due to neurologic deficit or lack of inquiry. Eleven of the remaining 116 cases (9.5%) were historically associated with drug use. Age range was 25 to 56 years (mean, 41 years). Stroke associated with drug use occurred in four of 62 (6%) cerebral infarcts, two of 28 (7%) intracerebral hemorrhages, and five of 26 (19%) subarachnoid hemorrhages (p = ns). Drugs included cocaine in five (45%), OTC sympathomimetics in three (27%), phencyclidine in two (18%), and heroin in one (9%).
Sloan
M A
MA
Department of Neurology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore.
Kittner
S J
SJ
Rigamonti
D
D
Price
T R
TR
D000328:Adult; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D003042:Cocaine / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010622:Phencyclidine / Q000009:adverse effects; D010665:Phenylpropanolamine / Q000009:adverse effects; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology
D010665:Phenylpropanolamine; D003042:Cocaine; D010622:Phencyclidine