AMPHETAMINE-ASSOCIATED STROKE

Seven patients with presumed amphetamine-associated stroke are reporte d. Ischaemic stroke occurred in four patients, a transient ischaemic a ttack in one patient and a haemorrhagic stroke in two patients. All pa tients had used amphetamines within hours of the onset of focal neurol ogical symptoms, but drug abuse was not admitted by three patients unt il 4, 5 and 8 weeks, respectively, after the admission. Other predispo sing factors, besides concurrent alcohol abuse (n = 6), were present i n only one patient (pro-coagulant state and protein-S deficiency). Amp hetamine-associated stroke is heterogeneous clinically, pathologically and aetiologically. Drug abuse should always be considered in young p atients with stroke, even if the patient denies the use of recreationa l drugs and if other stroke risk factors are present.