title: Bilateral thalamic infarct caused by spontaneous vertebral artery dissection in pre-eclampsia with HELLP syndrome: a previously unreported association.
abstract: Cerebrovascular accidents are not rare during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Pre-eclampsia is a common condition that is characterized by proteinuria and de novo hypertension that may be complicated by hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count (HELLP) syndrome. Spontaneous cervical artery dissection has been rarely reported in the postpartum period but never in association with HELLP syndrome. We describe a case of pre-eclampsia and HELLP syndrome complicated in the postpartum period by bilateral thalamic infarct as result of left vertebral artery dissection. We speculated about the possible common etiopathologic mechanisms involved in this previously unreported association.
authors.affiliation: Neurology Unit, Hospital of Viareggio, Lido di Camaiore, Pisa, Italy. paoloborelli@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Borelli
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Baldacci
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vergallo
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Del Dotto
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lucetti
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nuti
authors.forename: Ubaldo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Bonuccelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001241:Aspirin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002533:Cerebral Angiography / Q000379:methods; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D017359:HELLP Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D013788:Thalamus / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D020217:Vertebral Artery Dissection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*
chemical_list: D001241:Aspirin