scholarly journals Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome with cerebral infarction caused by acute high-level vapor exposure of ethylene oxide: a case report

BMC Neurology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bin Lin ◽  
Chao Wang ◽  
Nan Lu ◽  
Le Zhang ◽  
Biao Jiang

Abstract Background With the increasing production and use of ethylene oxide (EO) worldwide, its explicit bio-toxicity has drawn more and more attention. At present, most studies focus on chronic EO exposure. Studies on acute EO exposure are rare, especially with imaging studies. To our knowledge, this work is the first documented case of reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) with cerebral infarction caused by EO. Case presentation A 58-year-old woman who worked in a capsule production factory got an unprotected acute EO inhalation due to accidental exposure to sterilization gas. She suffered from nausea, vomiting, and severe paroxysmal headaches, but the first brain MRI scan of the patient showed no significant abnormality. Nine days after inhalation, she developed recurrent thunderclap headaches and gradual complete blindness. The follow-up brain MRI, 12 days after inhalation, demonstrated extensive cytotoxic edema. Fifteen days and 21 days after EO (ethylene oxide) inhalation, head MRA and CTA respectively showed diffuse vasoconstriction of cerebral arteries. Fifty-nine days after EO inhalation, head MRA assessed reversibility of the vasoconstriction. According to clinical features and imaging findings, RCVS with cerebral infarction can be diagnosed. The patient was sensitive to light and light reflection but still blind after symptomatic and rehabilitation therapy. Conclusions We report an acute EO exposure case in which the patient suffered from RCVS with cerebral infarction, which previous literature has not reported. This article aimed to raise awareness of encephalopathy after EO acute exposure.

Author(s):  
Neelu Desai ◽  
Rahul Badheka ◽  
Nitin Shah ◽  
Vrajesh Udani

AbstractReversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) has been well described in adults, but pediatric cases are yet under recognized. We describe two children with RCVS and review similar already published pediatric cases. The first patient was a 10-year-old girl who presented with severe headaches and seizures 3 days after blood transfusion. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed changes compatible with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome and subarachnoid hemorrhage. Magnetic resonance angiogram showed diffuse vasoconstriction of multiple cerebral arteries. The second patient was a 9-year-old boy who presented with severe thunderclap headaches. Brain MRI showed isolated intraventricular hemorrhage. Computed tomography/MR angiogram and digital subtraction angiogram were normal. A week later, he developed focal neurological deficits. Repeated MR angiogram showed diffuse vasospasm of multiple intracranial arteries. Both children recovered completely. A clinico-radiological review of previously reported childhood RCVS is provided.


Author(s):  
Héctor Montenegro-Rosales ◽  
Blanca Karina González-Alonso ◽  
Omar Cárdenas-Sáenz ◽  
Alonso Gutierrez-Romero

Background: Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) is defined as a clinical and radiological syndrome that comprises a group of disorders characterized by sudden-onset severe headache and segmental vasoconstriction of the cerebral arteries with resolution within 3 months. Case presentation: A 51-year-old female patient with a 2-week history of sudden-onset severe headache, visual disturbances and cerebellum; no relevant imaging findings, except for an infundibular dilation at the origin of the posterior communicating artery, and so, angiography was performed. When symptoms persisted, a new imaging study was carried out with findings of RCVS as the cause of the symptoms from the beginning. Conclusions: Findings of RCVS can be obtained in various vasculopathies of the nervous system and vasculitis, being misdiagnosed, and so, clinical suspicion is essential; if vasoconstriction is not demonstrated on the initial image and other diagnoses have been excluded, the patient should be managed as having possible or probable RCVS.


Cephalalgia ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 289-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Makoto Kobayashi

Background Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) is characterized by recurrent thunderclap headaches with reversible cerebral vasoconstriction, and often precipitated by the postpartum state and vasoactive medications. We describe a case of a patient with RCVS induced by amezinium metilsulfate, a sympathomimetic drug, in whom magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) initially revealed diffusely dilated cerebral arteries. Case description A 34-year-old woman was prescribed amezinium metilsulfate for hypotension. Twelve days later, she suffered from abrupt severe headaches and was referred to our department. She had no neurological deficits; however, MRA revealed diffusely dilated anterior, middle, and posterior cerebral arteries with vasoconstriction. She was tentatively diagnosed with RCVS and successfully treated with verapamil for headache. Nevertheless, follow-up MRAs disclosed widespread segmental vasoconstriction that resolved in two months. Discussion Diffuse cerebrovascular dilation has not been addressed but may be associated with RCVS pathophysiology. In addition, physicians should bear in mind that amezinium metilsulfate can potentially induce RCVS.


2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
M. Yger ◽  
C. Zavanone ◽  
L. Abdennour ◽  
W. Koubaa ◽  
F. Clarençon ◽  
...  

Introduction.Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome is becoming widely accepted as a rare cause of both ischemic and haemorrhagic stroke and should be evocated in case of thunderclap headaches associated with stroke. We present the case of a patient with ischemic stroke associated with cortical subarachnoid haemorrhage (cSAH) and reversible diffuse arteries narrowing, leading to the diagnosis of reversible vasoconstriction syndrome.Case Report.A 48-year-old woman came to the emergency department because of an unusual thunderclap headache. The computed tomography of the brain completed by CT-angiography was unremarkable. Eleven days later, she was readmitted because of a left hemianopsia. One day after her admission, she developed a sudden left hemiparesis. The brain MRI showed ischemic lesions in the right frontal and occipital lobe and diffuse cSAH. The angiography showed vasoconstriction of the right anterior cerebral artery and stenosis of both middle cerebral arteries. Nimodipine treatment was initiated and vasoconstriction completely regressed on day 16 after the first headache.Conclusion.Our case shows a severe reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome where both haemorrhagic and ischemic complications were present at the same time. The history we reported shows that reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome is still underrecognized, in particular in general emergency departments.


Cephalalgia ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 34 (13) ◽  
pp. 1093-1096 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomoaki Kameda ◽  
Michito Namekawa ◽  
Haruo Shimazaki ◽  
Daisuke Minakata ◽  
Tohru Matsuura ◽  
...  

Background Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome is characterized by thunderclap headache and reversible cerebral vasoconstriction on angiographic findings. It can be difficult to diagnose when initial angiography is normal. Case results A 30-year-old woman was admitted because of sudden-onset thunderclap headache and seizure on postpartum day 7. Brain MRI on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) showed hyperintense vessel sign (HVS), which usually means slow flow due to severe proximal arterial stenosis. However, magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) indicated that proximal arteries was normal. After nicardipine treatment, her symptoms improved dramatically. Follow-up FLAIR on day 7 showed complete resolution of HVS, while a series of MRAs revealed reversible multifocal segmental vasoconstriction. Conclusions HVS on initial FLAIR is useful for an early diagnosis of reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome. As the delayed vasoconstriction on MRA can be observed, reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome may progress from distal small to proximal larger arteries.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junliang Yuan ◽  
Zejin Jia ◽  
Wei Qin ◽  
Wenli Hu

Abstract Background Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) is characterized by thunderclap headache and reversible cerebral vasoconstriction, with other neurologic signs and symptoms. To the best of our knowledge, there were only a few cases of RCVS presenting both as both convexity subarachnoid haemorrhage (cSAH) and posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES). Case presentation Herein, We report a case of a 32-year-old woman with RCVS who presented with recurrent thunderclap headaches that occurred 50 days after delivery, with cSAH and PRES on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). She had significant clinical and radiological recover with 3 months’ follow-up. Conclusions The clinical coexistence of cSAH and PRES in our case with RCVS is quite rare. This case further raises the importance of the early diagnosis of RCVS, and clinical physicians should be well recognized when initial brain and vascular imaging are normal.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 78-82
Author(s):  
Paul J Alapatt ◽  
Ajay Panwar ◽  
Gigy Varkey Kuruttukulam ◽  
Kaushik Sundar

A 34-year-old post-partum female having dermatomyositis developed headache and became comatose after a seizure episode. Magnetic resonance imaging of brain showed a massive left ganglio-capsular bleed for which decompressive surgery was done. Computed tomographic angiography showed multiple foci of narrowing and irregularities in distal cerebral vessels. In view of dermatomyositis, the diagnosis of vasculitis was considered and pulse therapy of intravenous methylprednisolone was started. The patient, however, showed no improvement and developed new brain infarcts. She was subsequently taken up for a diagnostic cerebral angiography which showed multifocal severe narrowing in bilateral major cerebral arteries. These angiographic abnormalities showed excellent reversibility to intra-arterial milrinone and hence, reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) was diagnosed. Normal angiographic findings in the first week do not rule out the disease and a repeat angiography should be considered if the clinical suspicion of the RCVS is high. Intra-arterial milrinone has a high diagnostic utility.


Stroke ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 670-673 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosalie Boitet ◽  
Solène de Gaalon ◽  
Claire Duflos ◽  
Grégory Marin ◽  
Jérôme Mawet ◽  
...  

Background and Purpose— We aimed to further investigate the long-term outcomes after reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS). Methods— A longitudinal follow-up study was conducted in 173 RCVS patients. Results— Of the 172 patients who completed a mean follow-up of 9.2±3.3 years, 10 had a recurrent RCVS that was benign in all. Independent predictors of relapse were having a history of migraine and having exercise as a trigger for thunderclap headache during initial RCVS. After new delivery, the rate of postpartum RCVS was 9%. Conclusions— Overall, long-term outcome after RCVS is excellent.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. e041776
Author(s):  
Ryan Daniel Gotesman ◽  
Naomi Niznick ◽  
Brian Dewar ◽  
Dean A Fergusson ◽  
Risa Shorr ◽  
...  

IntroductionReversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) is characterised by severe, recurrent thunderclap headaches (TCHs) and vasoconstriction of cerebral arteries that resolve within 3 months. Abnormalities on non-contrast CT (NCCT) such as ischaemic strokes, intracerebral haemorrhage and subarachnoid haemorrhages are frequently observed on brain imaging of patients with RCVS though their prevalence varies considerably between studies. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to estimate the prevalence of NCCT abnormalities seen on neuroimaging of adult patients with RCVS.Methods and analysisWe will search the Medline, Embase and the Cochrane Library databases for studies on the prevalence of NCCT abnormalities on neuroimaging of patients with RCVS. Search results will be screened for eligibility by title and abstract. Suitable studies will be fully reviewed and relevant data extracted using a data abstraction form. The studies will be assessed for methodological quality, risk of bias and heterogeneity. Prevalence estimates across studies will be pooled using a random-effects model and subgroup analysis will be performed to assess the impact of age, sex, publication year and study design on prevalence of vascular lesions. Sensitivity analysis will be used to investigate the robustness of the findings. This protocol has been devised using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols 2015 checklist.Ethics and disseminationFormal ethics is not required as primary data will not be collected. The findings of this study will be disseminated through a peer-reviewed publication and conference presentations.Trial registration numberCRD42020190637.


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