Keywords :
Arterial thrombosis, Case report, Posterior circulation, Tetrahydrocannabinol, Young stroke
Citation Information :
Shriwastav U, Choudhury A, Kumar S, Gangadharan J, Bairwa M, Pradhan DR. Stroke of Misfortune: Unpacking the Association between Cannabis and Young Stroke. 2023; 2 (5):128-131.
This case study presents a rare case of a 21-year-old male with a posterior circulation stroke solely due to cannabis use disorder. The patient presented with a sudden onset of vomiting and headache, which progressed to include neurological deficits such as facial palsy and limb weakness. Imaging revealed acute nonhemorrhagic infarcts in the pons, medulla, and cerebellar hemispheres and thrombosis in the right vertebral and partial eccentric thrombosis of the basilar artery. The patient tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient in cannabis. While stroke is more common in older adults, the incidence of stroke in young adults has increased by several folds in recent decades. Stroke in the young poses unique diagnostic challenges as risk factors vary and are different compared to those in the classical older population. Illicit substance abuse is one of the important risk factors in young stroke. This case highlights the importance of recognizing cannabis use disorder as a risk factor for stroke in young adults and the need for further research into the link between cannabis use disorder and stroke.
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