Contrast-Induced Transient Neurological Symptoms Following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: A Case Report

Patient: Male, 78-year-old Final Diagnosis: Contrast-induced neurological injury Symptoms: Transient hemiparesis and dysarthria Medication:— Clinical Procedure: Percutaneous coronary intervention Specialty: Neurology OBJECTIVE: Rare disease BACKGROUND: Transient neurological symptoms after a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) are not uncommon manifestations. In clinical practice, the development of these symptoms might be a warning sign for PCI-related ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke. However, there is a reported risk of contrast-induced neurological injury (CINI) after PCI, which results in a broad spectrum of transient and benign neurological symptoms. Advanced age, renal disease, diabetes, hypertension, and brain parenchymal lesions are risk factors for CINI. CASE REPORT: A 78-year-old man with diabetes and impaired renal function developed left-sided hemiparesis and dysarthria within one hour of PCI. Non-contrast CT head showed hyperdense lesions in both frontal lobes, while the susceptibility-weighted sequence of magnetic resonance imaging (SWI-MRI) excludes hemorrhage. Hemodialysis had to be started for fast contrast clearance, and he had recovered completely within 24 hours. CONCLUSIONS: This case demonstrates that CINI is an important differential diagnosis that cardiologists and neurologists must be familiar with, especially for high-risk patients. The prognosis is good; whether an appropriate contrast’s dose or type for PCI or a need for early hemodialysis to avoid CINI in those patients is unclear.