[A case of intracranial arterial dolichoectasia with 4 repeated cerebral infarctions in 6 months and enlargement of basilar artery]

Rinsho Shinkeigaku. 2017 Mar 28;57(3):124-129. doi: 10.5692/clinicalneurol.cn-000989. Epub 2017 Feb 22.
[Article in Japanese]

Abstract

A 78-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of sudden right hemiparesis and dysarthria. His cranial MRI showed an area of hyperintensity in left pons on DWI and MRA revealed dilated, elongated and tortuous intracranial artery. We diagnosed as acute phase ischemic stroke and intracranial arterial dolichoectasia (IADE). Intravenous infusion of rt-PA was performed 157 minutes after the onset of symptoms, and his hemiparesis improved. However, he subsequently suffered from cerebral infarction 4 times in 6 months, and we treated him twice with thrombolytic therapy. Although thrombolytic therapy was effective in the short term and antithrombotic therapy was continued, he had bilateral hemiplegia and severe dysphagia because of repeated cerebral infarctions. Hence basilar artery was dilated with intramural hemorrhage over 6 months, and we discontinued antithrombolytic therapy. It is possible that antithrombolytic therapy affects enlargement of IADE. Antithrombolytic therapy for IADE should be done carefully.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Basilar Artery / diagnostic imaging
  • Basilar Artery / pathology*
  • Cerebral Infarction / diagnostic imaging
  • Cerebral Infarction / etiology*
  • Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Dilatation, Pathologic / diagnostic imaging
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intracranial Arterial Diseases / complications*
  • Intracranial Arterial Diseases / diagnostic imaging*
  • Intracranial Arterial Diseases / drug therapy
  • Magnetic Resonance Angiography
  • Middle Aged
  • Recombinant Proteins / administration & dosage
  • Recombinant Proteins / adverse effects
  • Recurrence
  • Stroke / complications
  • Stroke / diagnostic imaging
  • Stroke / drug therapy
  • Thrombolytic Therapy
  • Time Factors
  • Tissue Plasminogen Activator / administration & dosage
  • Tissue Plasminogen Activator / adverse effects
  • Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency / complications*
  • Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency / diagnostic imaging*
  • Vertebrobasilar Insufficiency / drug therapy

Substances

  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Tissue Plasminogen Activator