Delayed Recurrent Ischemic Stroke after Initial Good Recovery from Pneumococcal Meningitis

Abstract

We describe unusual delayed recurrent episodes of ischemic stroke in a patient with initial good recovery from pneumococcal meningitis due to progressive arterial stenosis for over 3 months. We postulate that any of the following may have been responsible for his condition: widespread cerebral vasculopathy due to the effects of purulent material bathing the base of the brain, an immune-mediated para-infectious condition, or a rebound effect of the primary inflammatory reaction that was initially suppressed by dexamethasone. This case demonstrates that progressive arterial stenosis can evolve months after bacterial meningitis and should be recognized as a potential vascular complication.