Dissecting Aneurysm of the Anterior Cerebral Artery with Severe Subarachnoid Hemorrhage during Treatment for Cerebral Infarction

Intracranial dissecting aneurysms cause ischemia, but anticoagulation or antiplatelet agents are administered to most ischemic patients without angiographical investigation. A 55-year-old woman succumbed to a Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) during antiplatelet therapy for ischemia caused by a dissecting aneurysm at the anterior cerebral artery, which was identified by conventional angiography on day 11 after admission. The authors emphasize that all dissecting aneurysms manifesting ischemic attack can cause hemorrhage. Therefore, emergency angiography is recommended for patients with ischemia complaining of a headache. If dissection is identified, it may be better to regulate the blood pressure of the patient strictly without anticoagulation or antiplatelet therapy.(Internal Medicine 42: 433-435, 2003)