Embolic stroke after smoking "crack" cocaine.
A 39-year-old woman had an embolic upper division middle cerebral artery branch occlusion 3 hours after smoking the free base of cocaine ("crack"). Radionuclide ventriculography demonstrated cardiomyopathy, and echocardiography documented a left atrial thrombus. This case demonstrates that embolism is one mechanism of ischemic stroke after cocaine use, and that cardiomyopathy, possibly cocaine induced, may be the source of embolus. A cardiac source of embolus should be sought in patients with cocaine-associated cerebral infarction.
Petty
G W
GW
Department of Neurology, Harlem Hospital Center, New York.
Brust
J C
JC
Tatemichi
T K
TK
Barr
M L
ML
D000328:Adult; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D003042:Cocaine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D002542:Intracranial Embolism and Thrombosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D003042:Cocaine