Abstract
We report cerebral vasculitis in 2 cocaine users who developed symptoms (transient blindness and persistent headache) while smoking “crack,” followed by progressive widespread cerebral dysfunction with focal signs over the next few weeks. One patient had smoked crack exclusively, and the other also used cocaine intravenously. Sedimentation rates were elevated and HIV titers negative. Arteriography was normal in 1 patient and in the other showed multiple large-vessel occlusions without beading. Brain biopsy showed vasculitis involving small vessels in both patients. Multinucleated cells were present in the neuropil, but there were no granulomas or evidence of infection. One patient improved significantly with corticosteroid treatment, and made a good recovery. The other died despite corticosteroid and cyclophosphamide treatment.
- © 1990 by the American Academy of Neurology
Letters: Rapid online correspondence
REQUIREMENTS
If you are uploading a letter concerning an article:
You must have updated your disclosures within six months: http://submit.neurology.org
Your co-authors must send a completed Publishing Agreement Form to Neurology Staff (not necessary for the lead/corresponding author as the form below will suffice) before you upload your comment.
If you are responding to a comment that was written about an article you originally authored:
You (and co-authors) do not need to fill out forms or check disclosures as author forms are still valid
and apply to letter.
Submission specifications:
- Submissions must be < 200 words with < 5 references. Reference 1 must be the article on which you are commenting.
- Submissions should not have more than 5 authors. (Exception: original author replies can include all original authors of the article)
- Submit only on articles published within 6 months of issue date.
- Do not be redundant. Read any comments already posted on the article prior to submission.
- Submitted comments are subject to editing and editor review prior to posting.
You May Also be Interested in
Hemiplegic Migraine Associated With PRRT2 Variations A Clinical and Genetic Study
Dr. Robert Shapiro and Dr. Amynah Pradhan