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Published on: February 18, 2016
Cocaine induced hippocampi infarction
Sarkis Gibran Morales Vidal1, Alejandro Hornik, Christopher Morgan
1Neurology Department, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Illinois, USA. smoralesvidal@lumc.edu
BMJ Case Reports
|July 5, 2012
Summary
Cocaine use can cause bilateral hippocampal strokes, leading to memory loss and disorientation. This case highlights a cocaine-induced stroke without cardiac arrest, emphasizing the drug’s neurological risks.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Toxicology
Background:
- Cocaine is a potent central nervous system stimulant with known cardiovascular and neurological adverse effects.
- Ischemic stroke is a rare but serious complication associated with recreational cocaine use.
Observation:
- A middle-aged man presented with acute disorientation and significant memory impairment.
- Neuroimaging revealed bilateral ischemic strokes specifically affecting the hippocampi.
Findings:
- The patient's neurological deficits were directly attributed to bilateral hippocampal strokes.
- This represents the second reported case of cocaine-induced hippocampal ischemic strokes.
- Unlike a previous report, this patient did not experience cardiac arrest, suggesting varied presentations of cocaine toxicity.
Implications:
- This case underscores the potential for cocaine to induce focal cerebral ischemia, particularly in the hippocampus, a region critical for memory.
- Clinicians should consider cocaine toxicity in the differential diagnosis of stroke, especially in younger individuals or those with unexplained neurological deficits.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms underlying cocaine-induced ischemic strokes and to identify potential risk factors or protective elements.
