J Korean Neurol Assoc.
2005 Feb;23(1):104-107.
A Case of Postpartum Cerebral Angiopathy Following Ergot Alkaloid Medication
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Neurology, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan, Korea. circo@lycos.co.kr
- 2Department of Neurology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Abstract
- We report a 32-year-old woman who developed an altered consciousness and quadriparesis three days after ingesting an ergot alkaloid derivative to suppress lactation. Brain MRI showed extensive cerebral infarction in the posterior circulation territory with multifocal vasoconstriction in the intracranial vessels including both the middle cerebral arteries. Extensive studies for stroke etiology are negative. Follow-up MRA and serial TCD studies revealed that reVersible vasospasm was the mechanism. This case is additional evidence that ergot derivatives may lead to postpartum cerebral angiopathy.