Cannabis Use, Ischemic Stroke, and Multifocal Intracranial Vasoconstriction

Abstract

Background and Purpose— Our objective was to evaluate the relationship between cannabis use and ischemic stroke in a young adult population. Methods— Forty-eight consecutive young patients admitted for acute ischemic stroke participated in the study. First-line screening was performed, including blood tests, cardiovascular investigations, and urine analysis for cannabinoids. If no etiology was found, 3D rotational angiography and cerebrospinal fluid analysis were performed. A control was planned through neurovascular imaging within 3 to 6 months. Results— In this series, there was multifocal intracranial stenosis associated with cannabis use in 21% (n=10). Conclusions— Multifocal angiopathy associated with cannabis consumption could be an important cause of ischemic stroke in young people.