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A case of postpartum cerebral angiopathy with subarachnoid hemorrhage

Nature Reviews Neurology volume 5, pages 512–516 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Background. A 33-year-old woman experienced a thunderclap headache immediately postpartum. The headache recurred over the next 10 days, and the patient also developed generalized tonic–clonic seizures. A subarachnoid hemorrhage was demonstrated on a head CT scan.

Investigations. Physical examination, laboratory tests, brain CT scan, brain MRI scan, brain magnetic resonance angiogram, brain magnetic resonance venogram, cerebral angiography, transcranial Doppler ultrasound, EEG.

Diagnosis. Postpartum cerebral angiopathy.

Management. NSAIds and opioid analgesics administered on postpartum day 3 provided partial headache relief. The next day, a blood patch was performed and intravenous caffeine, fluid and opioid analgesia were given to treat a suspected dural puncture headache. Following diagnosis of postpartum cerebral angiopathy on postpartum day 10, nimodipine was initiated to treat the vasospasm, and the headache was treated with opioid analgesics and toradol, followed by naproxen. The patient also received a 3-day course of intravenous magnesium sulfate.

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Figure 1: Brain CT scan.
Figure 2: Cerebral angiography.
Figure 3: MRI FLAIR sequences of the patient's brain.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Yolanda Chik & Rafael H. Llinas

  2. Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Robert E. Hoesch & Christos Lazaridis

  3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sinai Hospital, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Carla J. Weisman

Authors
  1. Yolanda Chik
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  2. Robert E. Hoesch
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  3. Christos Lazaridis
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  4. Carla J. Weisman
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  5. Rafael H. Llinas
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Correspondence to Rafael H. Llinas.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Chik, Y., Hoesch, R., Lazaridis, C. et al. A case of postpartum cerebral angiopathy with subarachnoid hemorrhage. Nat Rev Neurol 5, 512–516 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2009.114

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2009.114

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