title: Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome presenting as subarachnoid hemorrhage: A rare cause of postpartum seizure.
abstract: Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) is a rare cerebrovascular disorder affecting large- and medium-sized arteries, occurring most commonly in young women. Thunderclap headache is the usual primary symptom; seizure is uncommon. During the postpartum period, seizure is a significant concern. The main causes of postpartum seizures are posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome and cortical venous thrombosis; RCVS-related postpartum seizure is rare. Despite its rarity, its course may be fulminant, resulting in permanent disability or death if the diagnosis is delayed and treatment is not started promptly. We report an unusual case of RCVS presenting as a subarachnoid hemorrhage in a 31-year-old woman admitted for postpartum seizure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Sanggye Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, 1342 Dongil-ro, Nowon-gu, Seoul 139-707, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Sun Hwa
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Aerospace Medical Center, Republic of Korea Air Force, PO Box 335-21, 635 Danjae-ro, Namil-myeon, Cheongwon-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do 363-849, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: zoomknight@naver.com.
authors.forename: Seong Jong
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Ewha Womans University Hospital, 1071 Anyangcheon-ro, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul 07985, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yoon Hee
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D059906:Neuroimaging; D009553:Nimodipine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D054038:Posterior Leukoencephalopathy Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D049590:Postpartum Period; D012640:Seizures / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D013345:Subarachnoid Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D009553:Nimodipine
keywords: Cerebral angiography; MRI; Postpartum seizure; Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome; Subarachnoid hemorrhage