Cerebral Infarction Associated with Marijuana

J Korean Neurol Assoc > Volume 17(2); 1999 > Article

Journal of the Korean Neurological Association 1999;17(2): 294-297.

마리화나 흡연 후 발생한 뇌경색

이일형, 김성민 · 배재천 · 권기한 · 이병철

한림대학교 의과대학 신경과학교실

Cerebral Infarction Associated with Marijuana

Il-Hyeong Lee, M.D., Sung-Min Kim, M.D., Jae-Chun Bae, M.D., Ki-Han Kwon, M.D., Byung-Chul Lee, M.D. Department of Neurology, Hallym University College of Medicine

Department of Neurology, Hallym University College of Medicine, 896 Pyungchon, Anyang City, 431-070, Korea Tel : +82343-380-3740, Fax : +82343-381-4659 E-mail : ssbrain@netsgo.com

Abstract

Whereas stroke that is associated with the use of various street drugs has been frequently noted, cerebral infarction related to marijuana has been rarely reported. We experienced a 36 year-old male who developed sudden onset of dizziness and gait disturbance after marijuana smoking. On admission, neurological examination revealed right cerebellar dysfunction with prominent falling tendency to right side during tandem gait. Brain MRI showed high signal intensity on T2-weighted image on right posterior inferior cerebellar arterial (PICA) territory suggesting acute infarction. He had no risk factors for stroke except tobacco smoking and denied the use of other street drugs. Serologic work-up for coagulopathy and cardiologic evaluation were unremarkable. On cerebral angiogram, narrowing of proximal part of left PICA and diffusely spastic arterial changes of whole posterior circulation were revealed. On the basis of the physiologic effect of marijuana, we could infer that the probable mechanism of the stroke was intracerebral vasoconstriction or hemodymic change. Key words : marijuana, stroke, tetrahydrocannabinol, vasoconstriction, hemodynamic change