Fulminant Reversible Cerebral Vasoconstriction Syndrome: The Other Thunderclap Headache

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Global Journal of Medical and Clinical Case Reports volume7-issue2 articles
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Submitted: November 16, 2020
Published: Dec 3, 2020
DOI: 10.17352/2455-5282.000113
Keywords:
Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome, Thunderclap headache, Ischemic stroke, Migraine

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Keith A Brown*
Division of Internal Medicine, Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine at Jefferson Health New Jersey, Stratford, New Jersey, USA
James Brady
Division of Internal Medicine, Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine at Jefferson Health New Jersey, Stratford, New Jersey, USA
Ammar Alimam
Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Pulmonary and Sleep Associates of South Jersey, LLC, Cherry Hill, New Jersey, USA

Abstract

Reversible Cerebral Vasoconstriction Syndrome (RCVS) is a rare neurologic clinical syndrome that is often misdiagnosed. The pathophysiology of RCVS is unknown, but oftentimes presents as a thunderclap headache that is commonly overlooked once cerebral hemorrhage is ruled out of the differential. Typically patients follow a benign course and make a full recovery, however, in a small subset of patients RCVS can result in permanent neurologic damage. We present a patient with an uncommon clinical course of RCVS and identify pitfalls in the diagnostic workup.

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Article Details

Brown, K. A., Brady, J., & Alimam, A. (2020). Fulminant Reversible Cerebral Vasoconstriction Syndrome: The Other Thunderclap Headache. Global Journal of Medical and Clinical Case Reports, 7(2), 117–120. https://doi.org/10.17352/2455-5282.000113
Case Reports

Copyright (c) 2020 Brown KA, et al.

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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