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Author Spotlight: Assessing Ischemic Stroke Damage Through Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion Model
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Posterior cerebral artery stroke presenting as alexia without agraphia
Bhawna Sharma1, Rahul Handa1, Swayam Prakash1
1Department of Neurology, SMS Medical College, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India.
The American Journal of Emergency Medicine
|June 18, 2014
Summary
Pure alexia, a rare reading disorder, involves difficulty reading without writing impairment. This case highlights a left posterior cerebral artery infarct causing alexia without agraphia.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Neuroscience
- Ophthalmology
Background:
- Alexia without agraphia, a disconnection syndrome, was first described by Dejerine.
- It results from brain lesions affecting reading comprehension while preserving writing ability.
Observation:
- A 55-year-old man presented with alexia without agraphia.
- Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a left posterior cerebral artery infarct impacting the left occipital lobe and splenium of the corpus callosum.
Findings:
- The patient exhibited pure alexia, characterized by an inability to read despite normal visual acuity.
- The infarct location correlated with the observed neurological deficit.
Implications:
- Early recognition of alexia without agraphia is crucial for accurate diagnosis and management.
- Ophthalmologists should consider this syndrome in patients with visual complaints.
- Understanding the nonprogressive nature of the condition reassures patients and may prevent further cerebrovascular events.
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