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Published in: Neurocritical Care 3/2008

01-06-2008 | PRACTICAL PEARL

Amplification of Acute Focal Ischemic Deficit by Narcotics

Authors: Jordan Dubow, Richard A. Bernstein

Published in: Neurocritical Care | Issue 3/2008

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Abstract

Introduction

This article describes two patients with major ischemic stroke symptoms who had extremely small areas of acute brain infarction, suggestive of acute intrahemispheric diaschisis. Both patients were using narcotic analgesics during their stroke, and in both cases the clinical deficits improved dramatically with naloxone.

Discussion

We postulate that the narcotics amplified the ischemic stroke symptoms and that this effect was antagonized by naloxone.

Conclusion

This suggests that the opiate system may be involved in the process of intrahemispheric diaschisis.
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Metadata
Title
Amplification of Acute Focal Ischemic Deficit by Narcotics
Authors
Jordan Dubow
Richard A. Bernstein
Publication date
01-06-2008
Publisher
Humana Press Inc
Published in
Neurocritical Care / Issue 3/2008
Print ISSN: 1541-6933
Electronic ISSN: 1556-0961
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12028-007-9023-1

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