Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 2, 2026
07:43
Utilizing a Cranial Window to Visualize the Middle Cerebral Artery During Endothelin-1 Induced Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion
Published on: February 22, 2013
Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction phenomena following indomethacin administration
Giorgio Lambru1, Gian Camillo Manzoni, Paola Torelli
1Department of Neurology, Headache Center, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
Headache
|April 28, 2011
Summary
Indomethacin use during a migraine with aura attack may trigger reversible cerebral vasoconstriction. This rare condition, affecting brain blood vessels, resolved quickly after symptom disappearance.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction (RCVS) is a condition affecting brain arteries.
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are not typically associated with RCVS.
Observation:
- A patient experienced RCVS symptoms during a migraine with aura, potentially linked to indomethacin use.
- Transcranial Doppler sonography indicated distal cerebral vasospasm during the symptomatic phase.
Findings:
- Cerebral vasospasm normalized within 24 hours as neurological deficits resolved.
- Indomethacin is a potential, previously unreported trigger for RCVS in this context.
Implications:
- This case suggests indomethacin may precipitate RCVS, particularly in patients with migraine with aura.
- Further research is needed to understand the mechanism and predisposing factors for indomethacin-induced RCVS.
Related Concept Videos
01:16Vascular Spasm
The vascular phase, also known as vasospasm, is the initial stage of hemostasis, crucial for preventing excessive bleeding when a blood vessel is injured. After a vessel is cut, nerves in the damaged area trigger pain and other sensory impulses. Simultaneously, the smooth muscles in the vessel wall contract, resulting in a vascular spasm. This contraction reduces the vessel's diameter at the injury site, slowing or stopping blood loss through the vessel wall. Vascular spasms typically last for...
01:22Cerebral Edema ll: Pathophysiology
Vasogenic edema is a major form of cerebral edema characterized by abnormal accumulation of fluid in the brain’s extracellular space due to disruption of the blood–brain barrier (BBB). The BBB is a specialized structure composed of endothelial cells connected by tight junctions, supported by astrocytic endfeet and a basement membrane. Under normal conditions, it tightly regulates the movement of ions, proteins, and solutes between the bloodstream and brain parenchyma. When this barrier loses...