J Korean Neurol Assoc.
1997 Feb;15(1):237-240.
Persistent hypoglycemic hemiplegia: A case report
- Affiliations
-
- 1Department of Neurology, Seoul City Boramae Hospital.
- 2Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, Seoul National University.
Abstract
- Hypoglycemia sometimes manifests as focal neurologic deficits simulating cerebrovascular disease. Symptoms are usually resolved by glucose infusion, but persistent hemiplegia is rarely reported. A 68-year-old diabetic woman on oral hypoglycemic agent(OHA) was admitted with right hemiplegia and global aphasia. Blood glucose level was 29 mg/dl on admission. No evidence of cerebral infarct or underlying brain disease could be found on initial brain CT and follow up MRI. Focal stenosis or occlusion was also absent on MR angiography. Hemiplegia and aphasia were not improved despite adequate therapy. Hypoglycemic hemiplegia should be suspected in all diabetic patients using insulin or OHA with stroke-like episode, and we suggest that prolonged hypoglycemia may be related to persistence of neurologic deficits.
