Intracranial Fibromuscular Hyperplasia

Abstract

<h3>To the Editor.—</h3> Patients 30 to 50 years of age with nonembolic cerebrovascular disease are likely to have hypertension, diabetes, or serum lipid abnormalities as the cause of their illness, whereas those less than 30 years old may have a variety of other underlying diseases such as arteritis, dissecting aneurysms, serum protein abnormalities, or hematologic disorders.¹Intracranial fibromuscular hyperplasia is another possibility. <h3>Report of a Case.—</h3> A 21-year-old housewife was entirely well until July 30, 1969, when a severe retro-orbital nonthrobbing headache on the right side was followed one hour later by left arm and leg weakness, slurred speech, and asymmetry of the face. The patient smoked about six cigarettes per day, and had taken oral contraceptives for approximately one year, but had discontinued them six months prior to admission. Her last menstrual period ended four days prior to admission. Occasional tension headaches had been relieved by aspirin. There