Cardiogenic embolism caused hypoglycemia

The direct relationship between a hypoglycemic attack and cerebral infarction remains unknown. It has been reported that a hypoglycemic attack can result in takotsubo syndrome, leading to cerebral infarction. We report a case of a cardiogenic cerebral embolism caused by a hypoglycemic attack, with additional literature review. A 71-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital in a semi-comatose state due to a severe hypoglycemic attack ; she developed hemiplegia one day after admission. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed cerebral infarction in the area supplied by the left middle cerebral artery. Takotsubo syndrome was suspected based on echocardiography. We diagnosed cerebral embolism due to takotsubo syndrome, caused by the hypoglycemic attack

Analysis of cerebral perfusion and metabolism assessed with positron emission tomography before and after carotid artery stenting

Object The authors analyzed cerebral perfusion and metabolism in patients with internal carotid artery stenosis before and after carotid artery stenting (CAS).Methods Sixteen patients with internal carotid artery stenosis (> 70%) underwent PET scanning before CAS, 1–7 days after CAS, and 3–4 months after CAS to assess a variety of parameters related to cerebral perfusion and metabolism.Results Cerebral blood flow at rest (CBFrest) significantly increased in the immediate postoperative stage before returning to normal levels over the long term; this trend was also recognized on the contralateral side. In contrast, there was gradual improvement in the rate of CBF variation on acetazolamide administration (% CBFaz). Cerebral perfusion pressure (CBF/cerebral blood volume) increased rapidly during the acute stage and decreased in the long term, and the oxygen extraction fraction decreased slightly during the acute stage before normalizing over the long term. The cerebral metabolic rate of oxygen (CMRO2) increased slightly after stenting over both the short and long term. The ratios of ipsilateral to contralateral values (asymmetry index) for CBFrest, % CBFaz, cerebral blood volume, oxygen extraction fraction, and CMRO2 tended to approach 1.0 over time.Conclusions Repeated PET scanning revealed improvements in CBF, perfusion pressure, and oxygen metabolism after CAS. In particular, the vascular reserve tended to improve gradually, while CBF, cerebral perfusion pressure, and CMRO2 increased rapidly and peaked soon after CAS. These results suggest that a large discrepancy between rapidly increased CBF, perfusion pressure, and a small increase in vascular reserve in the acute stage after CAS could cause hyperperfusion syndrome

Nonfunctional Pituitary Macroadenoma Manifested as Muscular Symptoms

A 75-year-old man with a large pituitary adenoma presented with general muscular weakness, including difficulty in rising in the morning and forceless defecation and urination, and muscular pain, numbness and atrophy in the shoulder, neck and thigh. Testosterone replacement and subsequent resection of the pituitary tumor resulted in resolution of the symptoms. The value of pituitary imaging tests for men with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism is discussed