title: A pediatric case of reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome with cortical subarachnoid hemorrhage.
abstract: Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) is a rare disorder characterized by acute onset, severe headache, with reversible vasoconstriction of cerebral arteries often accompanied by additional neurological symptoms. This syndrome is seen mainly in middle-aged adults, predominantly women. Herein, we report on a pediatric case of RCVS with cortical subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). A 12-year-old boy developed acute, severe headache with paralysis of lower extremities causing gait disturbance after administration of eletriptan. Brain magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) revealed multifocal narrowing of the cerebral arteries, whereas magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated sulcal hyperintensity on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery, consistent with cortical SAH. The patient's clinical symptoms resolved spontaneously after a few days and the MRI and MRA findings disappeared 3 months later, suggesting a diagnosis of RCVS. Eletriptan might cause vasoconstriction of cerebral arteries. Although most patients with RCVS are adults and pediatric cases are rare, RCVS should be considered in a child complaining of severe headache.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Shiga University of Medical Science, Shiga, Japan. yoshioka1974830@yahoo.co.jp
authors.forename: Seiichiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yoshioka
authors.forename: Tomoyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takano
authors.forename: Fukiko
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ryujin
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Takeuchi
mesh_terms: D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications*; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000502:physiology*