Hyperprolactinemia-induced acute ischemic stroke

Strokes are the fifth leading cause of death in the United States with almost 800,000 patients seeking emergency care each year-most of whom are seen for ischemic strokes. Acute ischemic strokes (AIS) can be caused by emboli in diseases such as atrial fibrillation as well as thrombus formation in the form of platelet deposition in patients with atherosclerotic disease. Platelet activation by immunomodulators including thromboxane A2 (TXA2), serotonin, and thrombin have been extensively delineated; however, the activation by hormones such as prolactin has only recently been revealed. We present a case of a 25-year-old male with a history of pituitary microadenoma and hyperprolactinemia who presented with an acute ischemic stroke in the setting of medication non-compliance. To our knowledge, this is the first known case of AIS in a patient with known hyperprolactinemia who presented with a stroke due to be medication non-compliance.

Automated summary

Strokes are a significant cause of death in the United States, resulting in approximately 800,000 patients seeking emergency care annually. Acute ischemic strokes can be caused by emboli in diseases like atrial fibrillation or thrombus formation due to atherosclerotic disease. While platelet activation by certain immunomodulators has been extensively studied, the role of hormones such as prolactin in stroke is a recent revelation. We present the first known case of an acute ischemic stroke in a patient with known hyperprolactinemia due to medication non-compliance.