A Singular Manifestation of Contrast-induced Encephalopathy Following Coronary Angiography

Contrast-induced encephalopathy is an uncommon complication of coronary angiography. The clinical presentation may be very puzzling, leading to an unnecessary and hazardous therapy. The prognosis is believed to be benign, with spontaneous resolution. We report a 71-year-old woman with a past medical history of hypertension, type two diabetes and no history of renal disease. She was admitted to our cardiology department with symptoms of recurrent angina. She had a history of unstable angina two years ago and had undergone a percutaneous coronary intervention without incident. Three hours after un-elective coronary angiography, she experienced a sudden, transitory deterioration in her consciousness's level with neurovegetative symptoms (high blood pressure, high temperature). The cerebral Computer Tomography scan ruled out any acute hemorrhagic or ischemic stroke. In less than 24 hours, she recovered spontaneously with a complete resolution of the neurological symptoms.