Recreational Nitrous Oxide Abuse Causing Ischemic Stroke in a Young Patient: A Rare Case Report

Hyperhomocysteinemia has been associated with an increased risk of systemic atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, and stroke. It can result from an impaired homocysteine metabolism resulting from a dietary deficiency of folic acid, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12 or as a result of genetic predispositions due to impaired gene function involved in the methionine and homocysteine metabolism. Nitrous oxide use can also lead to hyperhomocysteinemia by irreversibly oxidizing the cobalt atom of vitamin B12, which results in an inhibition of the enzyme methionine synthase. Here, we report a rare case of a young patient who presented with acute ischemic stroke after years of recreational nitrous oxide use.