Ischemic Stroke After Low-voltage Electric Injury in a Diabetic and Coagulopathic Woman

Electric injury is a common physical injury in daily life. Because of the low resistance of vascular tissue, vascular injury and thrombosis are frequently found in cases of high-voltage electric injury but are rarely reported in low-voltage conditions. We present the case of a diabetic woman who suf...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of stroke and cerebrovascular diseases 2012-11, Vol.21 (8), p.913.e1-913.e4
Main Authors: Chen, Wei-Hsi, MD, MSc, LLM, Chui, Chi, MD, LLM, Lui, Chun-Chung, MD, Yin, Hsin-Ling, MD, MSc
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Brain Ischemia - diagnosis
Brain Ischemia - etiology
Brain Stem Infarctions - diagnosis
Brain Stem Infarctions - etiology
Cardiovascular
Coagulopathy
Diabetes Mellitus
Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Electric Injuries - diagnosis
Electric Injuries - etiology
electric injury
Electric Power Supplies - adverse effects
Female
Humans
ischemic stroke
low voltage
Magnetic Resonance Angiography
Middle Aged
Neurology
Protein C Deficiency - blood
Protein C Deficiency - complications
Protein C Deficiency - diagnosis
Risk Factors
thrombosis
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Summary:Electric injury is a common physical injury in daily life. Because of the low resistance of vascular tissue, vascular injury and thrombosis are frequently found in cases of high-voltage electric injury but are rarely reported in low-voltage conditions. We present the case of a diabetic woman who suffered symptomatic brainstem stroke after a short duration of 60 Hz/110V alternate current electric contact with a home washer socket. A stroke risk factor survey did not reveal remarkable cardiac or vascular abnormality, except increased glycohemoglobin levels and decreased protein C activity. In contrast to a direct and adequate energy transfer in high-voltage electric injury, a pre-existing vasculohemostatic deficit, such as coagulopathy, has been proposed to provide a predisposition to thrombosis in low-voltage electric injury. Nevertheless, the findings in this patient remind the possibility of physical triggering factor for stroke occurrence in our environment as new technology and product generates rapidly enough for understanding their safety and biologic effect.
ISSN:1052-3057
1532-8511
DOI:10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2011.12.009