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Updated: May 24, 2026

Cerebral Ischemic Coma Model Induced by Modified Four-Vessel Occlusion
Published on: July 5, 2024
[Severe atropine poisoning mimicking acute stroke]
A Faivre1, C Mounier, T Gaillard
1Unité neurovasculaire, service de neurologie, hôpital d'instruction des armées Sainte-Anne, boulevard Saint-Anne, Toulon cedex 09, France. anthonyfa@wanadoo.fr
Introduction:
Atropine is a strong antagonist of muscarinic receptors widely used in various diseases because of its anticholinergic action.
Case-Report:
We report here a case of accidental poisoning due to ingestion of atropine eyes drops that caused severe neurologic disorders mimicking an acute stroke. Correct diagnosis was finally made by detecting atropine in the cerebrospinal fluid of the patient.
Conclusions:
Atropinic poisoning can induce misleading neuropsychiatric disorders mimicking stroke. Therefore, this diagnosis should be considered in patients presenting an unexplained encephalopathy with anticholinergic manifestations, especially when bilateral mydriasis occurs.
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