Using light microscopy for diagnosing the cause of a case of acute stroke

A 60-year-old febrile man was transferred to the emergency department after being found alone and unconscious in a park. No medical history was available. Brain CT revealed a hyperdense lesion in the basilar artery (figure, A) suggesting a thromboembolic occlusion, which was subsequently thromboaspirated (figure, B and C). The fresh thrombus was retrieved (figure, D) and urgently analyzed using light microscopy, which revealed colonies of gram-positive bacilli (figure, E). A cardiac echogram showed severe mitral valve insufficiency and vegetations on its anterior leaflet (figure, F). After mitral valve repair and a long course of antibiotic therapy, the patient's symptoms improved.

Source: Neurology Clinical Practice - April 9, 2018 Category: Neurology Authors: Hajdu, S. D., Maillard, M., Antiochos, P., Saliou, G. Tags: Stroke in young adults, All Infections, Embolism Case Source Type: research