Severe orthostatic hypotension due to unilateral carotid artery dissection

Abstract

A 46-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with mild right-sided hemiparesis and orthostatic hypotension. Magnetic resonance angiography of the neck showed stenosis of the left distal carotid sinus surrounded by intraluminal hyperintensities on both T1-weighted and T2-weighted images, representing a periluminal hematoma secondary to carotid artery dissection. The dissection hyperextended the carotid artery wall and stimulated baroreceptors in the carotid sinus. The stimulated baroreceptors induced carotid sinus hypersensitivity, which may have been related to her orthostatic hypotension. Post-stroke orthostatic hypotension should prompt consideration of carotid artery dissection.

Keywords

• orthostatic hypotension, carotid artery dissection, infarction, carotid sinus hypersensitivity