Acute ischaemic stroke during short-term travel to high altitude

Hong Kong Med J. 2012 Feb;18(1):63-5.

Abstract

This is a case report of a young healthy adult who had acute cerebral infarcts after a short-term visit to high-altitude area. He developed acute onset of right-sided limb weakness and right hemianopia a few hours after arrival at an altitude of 3600 m by train. He was initially treated for high-altitude cerebral oedema but later computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging confirmed ischaemic infarcts in the medial left occipital lobe and left thalamus. Subsequent investigations, including laboratory tests and imaging including an echocardiogram, revealed no culpable predisposing factors.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Altitude*
  • Brain Ischemia / diagnosis
  • Brain Ischemia / etiology*
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Stroke / diagnosis
  • Stroke / etiology*
  • Tibet
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Travel
  • Young Adult