Cocaine-Induced Limbic Encephalopathy Manifesting as Acute Amnesia: A Case Report
<b>Background:</b> Cocaine has been shown to cause cytotoxic neuronal damage, which has been implicated in cases of leukoencephalopathy. We present a case of cocaine-induced toxic encephalopathy resulting in predominant lesions to the gray matter on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). <...
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2025-01-01
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| author | Leah Mitra Bourgan Lindsay Michelle Wong Prithvi Setty Adan Junaid Shahnawaz Karim Forshing Lui |
| author_facet | Leah Mitra Bourgan Lindsay Michelle Wong Prithvi Setty Adan Junaid Shahnawaz Karim Forshing Lui |
| author_sort | Leah Mitra Bourgan |
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| description | <b>Background:</b> Cocaine has been shown to cause cytotoxic neuronal damage, which has been implicated in cases of leukoencephalopathy. We present a case of cocaine-induced toxic encephalopathy resulting in predominant lesions to the gray matter on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). <b>Case Presentation</b>: A 70-year-old female presented acutely with confusion, agitation, and disorientation. She was markedly hypertensive with other vital signs within normal range. On presentation to the emergency department, she was uncooperative and had an unsteady gait but showed no focal neurological deficits. Her lab work was positive for elevated cardiac troponins, elevated D-dimer, and a urine drug screen positive only for cocaine. Head computed tomography (CT) showed no hemorrhage and head CT angiogram showed no abnormalities and no significant vascular stenosis. Chest X-ray and CT showed diffuse ground glass opacities compatible with atypical pneumonia. Antibiotics were initiated to treat the pneumonia and antihypertensives were administered to manage her blood pressure. She was also given IV thiamine. Brain MRI showed restricted diffusion involving bilateral hippocampi, thalami, putamen, caudate, and right occipital lobe, findings suspicious for cytotoxic edema. After acute stabilization, the patient demonstrated profound anterograde and retrograde amnesia, which improved gradually over days to weeks. She was eventually discharged to a skilled nursing facility. <b>Conclusion</b>: To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of profound amnesia secondary to cocaine-induced toxic encephalopathy with bilateral hippocampal involvement. These symptoms correlate with the implicated neuroanatomical structures. This case demonstrates that cocaine may be implicated in toxic encephalopathy affecting the brain’s gray matter and highlights a unique presentation of these findings. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fba91084eb2c4f80b2b92ad4bc252ac2 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2673-8430 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-fba91084eb2c4f80b2b92ad4bc252ac22025-08-20T02:42:45ZengMDPI AGBioMed2673-84302025-01-0151410.3390/biomed5010004Cocaine-Induced Limbic Encephalopathy Manifesting as Acute Amnesia: A Case ReportLeah Mitra Bourgan0Lindsay Michelle Wong1Prithvi Setty2Adan Junaid3Shahnawaz Karim4Forshing Lui5College of Medicine, California Northstate University, Elk Grove, CA 95757, USACollege of Medicine, California Northstate University, Elk Grove, CA 95757, USACollege of Medicine, California Northstate University, Elk Grove, CA 95757, USACollege of Medicine, California Northstate University, Elk Grove, CA 95757, USADepartment of Neurology, Kaiser Permanente South Sacramento Medical Center, Sacramento, CA 95823, USACollege of Medicine, California Northstate University, Elk Grove, CA 95757, USA<b>Background:</b> Cocaine has been shown to cause cytotoxic neuronal damage, which has been implicated in cases of leukoencephalopathy. We present a case of cocaine-induced toxic encephalopathy resulting in predominant lesions to the gray matter on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). <b>Case Presentation</b>: A 70-year-old female presented acutely with confusion, agitation, and disorientation. She was markedly hypertensive with other vital signs within normal range. On presentation to the emergency department, she was uncooperative and had an unsteady gait but showed no focal neurological deficits. Her lab work was positive for elevated cardiac troponins, elevated D-dimer, and a urine drug screen positive only for cocaine. Head computed tomography (CT) showed no hemorrhage and head CT angiogram showed no abnormalities and no significant vascular stenosis. Chest X-ray and CT showed diffuse ground glass opacities compatible with atypical pneumonia. Antibiotics were initiated to treat the pneumonia and antihypertensives were administered to manage her blood pressure. She was also given IV thiamine. Brain MRI showed restricted diffusion involving bilateral hippocampi, thalami, putamen, caudate, and right occipital lobe, findings suspicious for cytotoxic edema. After acute stabilization, the patient demonstrated profound anterograde and retrograde amnesia, which improved gradually over days to weeks. She was eventually discharged to a skilled nursing facility. <b>Conclusion</b>: To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of profound amnesia secondary to cocaine-induced toxic encephalopathy with bilateral hippocampal involvement. These symptoms correlate with the implicated neuroanatomical structures. This case demonstrates that cocaine may be implicated in toxic encephalopathy affecting the brain’s gray matter and highlights a unique presentation of these findings.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8430/5/1/4neurologyamnesialimbic systemcocaineencephalopathytoxicity |
| spellingShingle | Leah Mitra Bourgan Lindsay Michelle Wong Prithvi Setty Adan Junaid Shahnawaz Karim Forshing Lui Cocaine-Induced Limbic Encephalopathy Manifesting as Acute Amnesia: A Case Report BioMed neurology amnesia limbic system cocaine encephalopathy toxicity |
| title | Cocaine-Induced Limbic Encephalopathy Manifesting as Acute Amnesia: A Case Report |
| title_full | Cocaine-Induced Limbic Encephalopathy Manifesting as Acute Amnesia: A Case Report |
| title_fullStr | Cocaine-Induced Limbic Encephalopathy Manifesting as Acute Amnesia: A Case Report |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cocaine-Induced Limbic Encephalopathy Manifesting as Acute Amnesia: A Case Report |
| title_short | Cocaine-Induced Limbic Encephalopathy Manifesting as Acute Amnesia: A Case Report |
| title_sort | cocaine induced limbic encephalopathy manifesting as acute amnesia a case report |
| topic | neurology amnesia limbic system cocaine encephalopathy toxicity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8430/5/1/4 |
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