Case Reports in Neurology (Jan 2021)

Inner-Ear Symptom May Herald Basilar Artery Occlusion

  • Yosuke Aiba,
  • Ryuji Sakakibara,
  • Takashi Yamaguchi,
  • Fuyuki Tateno

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1159/000511311
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 1
pp. 31 – 34

Abstract

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A 75-year-old Japanese man suddenly experienced right cochlear and vestibular dysfunction. Basilar artery occlusion and silent right cerebellar infarction were identified 3 days later. These were treated with intravenous ozagrel (an antiplatelet agent) and edaravone, a free-radical scavenger. The patient did not develop cerebello-brainstem signs. His first sign most probably reflected a right labyrinthine artery occlusion that heralded, or occurred together with, the basilar artery occlusion. This case highlights the possibility that a sudden inner ear dysfunction may herald a basilar stroke. Clinicians should therefore initiate appropriate therapy to prevent life-threatening brainstem complications.

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