Clinical Characteristics of Fatal Methamphetamine‐related Stroke: A National Study

The study aimed to determine the clinical characteristics of fatal methamphetamine‐related stroke in Australia, 2009–2015. There were 38 cases, 60.5% male, with a mean age of 40.3 years. In no case was there evidence that this was the first time methamphetamine had been used by the decedent, and 52....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of forensic sciences 2018-05, Vol.63 (3), p.735-739
Main Authors: Darke, Shane, Lappin, Julia, Kaye, Sharlene, Duflou, Johan
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Age Distribution
Amphetamine-Related Disorders - complications
Aneurysm, Ruptured - pathology
Australia - epidemiology
Autopsies
Central Nervous System Stimulants - adverse effects
Databases, Factual
Female
forensic science
Hemorrhage
hemorrhagic
Humans
Hypertension
Intracranial Aneurysm - pathology
ischemic
Male
Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine - adverse effects
Middle Aged
mortality
Sex Distribution
stroke
Stroke - chemically induced
Stroke - mortality
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage - pathology
Young Adult
Young adults
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Summary:The study aimed to determine the clinical characteristics of fatal methamphetamine‐related stroke in Australia, 2009–2015. There were 38 cases, 60.5% male, with a mean age of 40.3 years. In no case was there evidence that this was the first time methamphetamine had been used by the decedent, and 52.6% had known histories of injecting drug use. The stroke was hemorrhagic in 37 of 38 cases. In 21.1% of cases, the stroke was purely parenchymal and, in 18.4%, involved purely the subarachnoid space. A ruptured berry aneurysm was present in 31.6% and in 68.8% of initial subarachnoid hemorrhages. There was evidence of systemic hypertension in 8 of 25 cases in which full autopsy findings were available. With increased use of methamphetamine, there is a high probability of increased hemorrhagic stroke incidence among young people. In cases of fatal hemorrhagic stroke among young cases presenting to autopsy, the possibility of methamphetamine use should be borne in mind.
ISSN:0022-1198
1556-4029
DOI:10.1111/1556-4029.13620