title: Acute Occlusion of the Percheron Artery during Pregnancy: A Case Report and a Review of the Literature.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Percheron artery (PA) is a rare variant vessel. Its acute occlusion can cause a bilateral symmetrical thalamic stroke, clinically manifested as a sudden alteration of consciousness that could vary from sleepiness to coma. In this paper, we illustrate a case of acute PA occlusion in a young, pregnant woman and present a review of the literature, focusing on the possible causes of the acute occlusion.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 35-year-old woman, at the fourth week of pregnancy, came to the emergency department of our hospital because of a sudden onset and persistent loss of consciousness. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a symmetrical and bilateral thalamic infarction without evidence of other ischemic lesions, compatible with an acute PA occlusion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patient, who showed full clinical recovery within a few hours of symptom onset, received a short-term anticoagulant treatment followed by aspirin for long-term prevention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We reviewed the literature about the possible causes of acute PA occlusion. This ischemic condition is usually associated with cardioembolic or small-vessel disease. However, in our patient, we did not find any element supportive for coagulative alteration or embolyzing conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of this type of thalamic stroke should be considered in the management of persistent loss of consciousness. PA occlusion is rare, but it needs a brain MRI examination for a correct diagnosis, a narrow evaluation of all the possible causes, and a long-term anticoagulant therapy. Pregnancy itself should constitute a rare but possible cause of a PA occlusion.
authors.affiliation: Neurological Clinic, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy. Electronic address: viticchi.g@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Viticchi
authors.affiliation: Internal and Subintensive Medicine, Ospedali Riuniti, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Falsetti
authors.affiliation: Neurological Clinic, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fiori
authors.affiliation: Neurological Clinic, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Giorgia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Jorio
authors.affiliation: Neurological Clinic, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Plutino
authors.affiliation: Neurological Clinic, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Buratti
authors.affiliation: Neurological Clinic, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bartolini
authors.affiliation: Neurological Clinic, Marche Polytechnic University, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Silvestrini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D020769:Posterior Cerebral Artery / Q000473:pathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D013788:Thalamus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*
keywords: Percheron artery; pregnancy; stroke; thrombophilia