ObjectiveCase description of recurrent idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) in a transgender man on gender-affirming hormone therapy.MethodsCase report.ResultsA 24-year-old transmasculine patient (assigned female at birth), with a body mass index (BMI) of 37.3, presented with headaches, transient visual obscurations (TVOs), pulsatile tinnitus, Frisén 5 papilledema, and scotomas. He was diagnosed with IIH after normal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance venogram (MRV), an elevated opening pressure of 27 cm water, and normal cerebrospinal fluid studies. IIH resolved with acetazolamide and optic nerve sheath fenestration (ONSF). He then started gender-affirming testosterone therapy and was on this for 20 months when his headaches, pulsatile tinnitus, TVOs, and Frisén 3 papilledema recurred at a BMI of 31. Brain MRI and MRV were normal. Opening pressure was elevated at 31 cm. water. Acetazolamide 4 g/day did not improve the papilledema, thus a left ONSF was repeated resulting in eventual resolution of the IIH.DiscussionSeveral reports have been published of IIH development in patients receiving testosterone therapy. Hormone prescribers for gender affirmation may wish to screen for visual loss and optic nerve edema in patients undergoing testosterone therapy, which may also stimulate appetite weight gain.

Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs) are usually intraparenchymal lesions commonly associated with intraparenchymal hemorrhage. Extra-axial Lesions are uncommon and have rarely been reported as the cause of aneurysmal like subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). We present a 33-years-old female with a past medical history significant for hypertension who presented with acute onset head and neck pain after bending over. En route to the hospital, she had abnormal motor movements suggestive of seizures. Computed tomography (CT) of the head was significant for diffuse aneurysmal like SAH. Head CT angiography (CTA) and catheter digital subtraction angiography (DSA) were both negative for aneurysm. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain showed susceptibility artifact in the right parafalcine frontal lobe suspicious for underlying CCM. This lesion was in the area suspected of having an aneurysm on CT head. The patient was diagnosed with SAH secondary to cavernous malformation mimicking aneurysmal etiology. This case is important as it serves as a good reminder to consider cavernous malformations in the differential in patients presenting with angiogram negative SAH. Diagnosis of this entity has treatment implications including discontinuation of calcium channel blockers if initiated, discussion about duration of anti-seizure medication, in addition to consideration for surgical intervention in select populations.

Background: Since 2010, three novel oral anticoagulants (NOAC) have been approved and included in the guidelines as alternatives to warfarin for the prevention of stroke in patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). Prior to the introduction of NOACs, studies showed that anticoagulation with warfarin in stroke patients with NVAF is suboptimal with as few as 40% anticoagulated and most subtherapeutic. The goal of this study is to examine anticoagulation usage in a contemporary prospective registry of TIA/stroke patients with NVAF and determine whether the introduction of NOACs has increased anticoagulation usage. Methods: This is an ongoing single centre observational study. Consecutive TIA/ischemic stroke admissions (2012-13) to a tertiary hospital in Edmonton, Canada with NVAF were enrolled. Data regarding demographic, clinical, antithrombotic treatment and laboratory parameters were collected in a prospectively maintained database. Those with previously diagnosed NVAF were included in the present analysis (149/181). Clinical characteristics were compared between patients on anticoagulants and those on other/no antithrombotic therapy. Results: The 149 included patients had a mean (SD) age of 78.7 (10.0) years. Male were 52.3% and 86.6% (129) had a preadmission CHADS2 score ≥2. At the time of TIA/stroke, 51% (76/149) were on an anticoagulant, 24.2% (36/149) on antiplatelet agents and 28.4% (37/149) were on no antithrombotic therapy. Of the 76 patients on anticoagulants, 81.6% were on warfarin and the remaining (18.4%) were on a NOAC. Only 31% of patients on warfarin had a therapeutic INR at the time of stroke. Patients not anticoagulated had a similar frequency of prior stroke (21% vs. 23%; p=0.80) but tended to have a lower CHADS2 score (p=0.082) than those anticoagulated. In patients with CHADS≥2, 47% were not on an anticoagulant. Conclusions: Despite therapeutic advances in the treatment of NVAF, anticoagulation usage in TIA/stroke patients with preexisting NVAF remains suboptimal. In this study, only 53% of patients with NVAF and a CHADS≥2 were treated with anticoagulants. This study emphasizes the need for increased efforts to encourage prescribing of oral anticoagulants in high-risk individuals.

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