Infantile ischemic stroke secondary to profound arteriopathy

Pediatric arterial ischemic stroke (AIS) is an uncommon emergency department (ED) presentation. We share the case of a 4-month-old female with a chief complaint of irritability and difficulty feeding. During ED evaluation, she developed lateral gaze deviation, tongue deviation, and rhythmic leg movements. Computed tomography of the head revealed a right-sided hypodensity concerning for ischemic infarct without hemorrhagic conversion. Subsequent brain magnetic resonance imaging and arteriography confirmed a large right-sided cerebral infarct and demonstrated narrowing and tortuosity of almost all extra- and intracranial vessels. Comprehensive pediatric AIS workup, including echocardiogram and laboratory tests for anemia, hypercoagulability, inflammatory, and genetic panels, were non-diagnostic. This case highlights the difficulty in diagnosis of pediatric AIS due to low clinical suspicion, limited neurologic examination, and non-specific presentations that may suggest stroke mimics. Maintenance of clinical suspicion and early recognition of pediatric AIS can result in earlier initiation of neuroprotective measures and optimization of imaging strategies for better outcomes.