Open AccessEmbolic stroke after smoking "crack" cocaine.
Author(s) -
George W. Petty,
John C.M. Brust,
T. K. Tatemichi,
Mark L. Barr
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
stroke
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.397
H-Index - 319
eISSN - 1524-4628
pISSN - 0039-2499
DOI - 10.1161/01.str.21.11.1632
Subject(s) - medicine , embolus , cardiology , embolism , thrombus , stroke (engine) , left ventricular thrombus , cardiomyopathy , thromboembolic stroke , embolic stroke , infarction , myocardial infarction , ischemic stroke , ischemia , atrial fibrillation , heart failure , mechanical engineering , engineering
A 39-year-old woman had an embolic upper division middle cerebral artery branch occlusion 3 hours after smoking the free base of cocaine ("crack"). Radionuclide ventriculography demonstrated cardiomyopathy, and echocardiography documented a left atrial thrombus. This case demonstrates that embolism is one mechanism of ischemic stroke after cocaine use, and that cardiomyopathy, possibly cocaine induced, may be the source of embolus. A cardiac source of embolus should be sought in patients with cocaine-associated cerebral infarction.
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