Open AccessReversible Cerebral Vasoconstriction Syndrome: an important cause of thunderclap headache
Author(s) -
Erin Montague,
Christopher L. Murphy
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
acute medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1747-4892
pISSN - 1747-4884
DOI - 10.52964/amja.0348
Subject(s) - reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome , medicine , headaches , vasoconstriction , constriction , pediatrics , intensive care medicine , cardiology , anesthesia , surgery
Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (rCVS) is an important cause of acute severe headache that is poorly understood and under-recognised. It typically presents with recurrent thunderclap headaches and is characterised by multifocal, segmental constriction and dilatation of the cerebral arteries, shown by a ‘string of beads’ appearance, on cerebral angiography. We describe a case of rCVS in a 39-year-old male presenting with post-coital thunderclap headaches following a whiplash-type injury.