Amplification of acute focal ischemic deficit by narcotics.
BACKGROUND
This article describes two patients with major ischemic stroke symptoms who had extremely small areas of acute brain infarction, suggestive of acute intrahemispheric diaschisis. Both patients were using narcotic analgesics during their stroke, and in both cases the clinical deficits improved dramatically with naloxone.


CONCLUSIONS
We postulate that the narcotics amplified the ischemic stroke symptoms and that this effect was antagonized by naloxone.


CONCLUSIONS
This suggests that the opiate system may be involved in the process of intrahemispheric diaschisis.
Dubow
Jordan
J
Davee Department of Neurology, Feinberg School of Medicine of Northwestern University, 710 North Lake Shore Drive, Abbott Hall, 11th Floor, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
Bernstein
Richard A
RA
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006853:Hydrocodone / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004091:Hydromorphone / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D009270:Naloxone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009294:Narcotics / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy
D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D009294:Narcotics; D009270:Naloxone; D006853:Hydrocodone; D004091:Hydromorphone