Hemiplegic Migraine as the Initial Presentation of Biopsy Positive Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy With Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy

The diagnosis of cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) in adults can be challenging. Initially, this disease can mimic embolic cerebral infarction, multiple sclerosis, and other neurological diseases on imaging studies. CADASIL is the most common hereditary cerebral angiopathy which is inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion. There is a wide variety of clinical presentations including a migraine headache, mood disturbances, cognitive dysfunction, and recurrent subcortical cerebral infarctions. This case details the hospital course and diagnosis of a 41-year-old male who initially presented with symptoms consistent with his previous diagnosis of a hemiplegic migraine who was later found to have biopsy-positive CADASIL after the symptoms failed to remit.