title: Fatal stroke in migraine: a case report with autopsy findings.
abstract: A 50-year-old woman with migraine was admitted to hospital shortly after having abruptly developed hemiparesis. CT scan revealed infarction in the territory of the right middle cerebral artery. Death ensued after three days due to cerebral edema with herniation. Autopsy revealed no pathologic findings in the heart or in the extra- or intracranial arteries. It is suggested that the fatal stroke may have resulted from arterial spasm caused by ergotamine overdosage and possibly complicated by thrombosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Aker University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: C F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Lindboe
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dahl
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rostad
mesh_terms: D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000473:pathology; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D004878:Ergotamine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D004878:Ergotamine