Recurrent Embolic Strokes of Undetermined Source in a Patient with Extreme Lipoprotein(a) Levels

Zachary Bulwa1, Audrey Kim2, Karandeep Singh2

  • 1Internal Medicine, University of Chicago - NorthShore University Health System , Evanston, IL , USA.

Frontiers in Neurology
|September 16, 2016
PubMed

Lipoprotein(a) is a plasma lipoprotein and known cardiovascular risk factor, most recently implicated in the development of high-risk carotid atherosclerotic plaques without significant carotid stenosis. We present a case of a young African-American female with recurrent embolic strokes of undetermined source. After our thorough investigation, we identified the link between a small, irregular plaque in the right internal carotid artery, and an extremely elevated plasma level of lipoprotein(a) as the source of her embolic strokes.

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