Probable Blood-Brain Barrier Disruption After Carotid Artery Stenting

—Case Report—

Abstract

A 74-year-old man presented with prolonged reversible neurological deficits caused by internal carotid artery stenosis. He underwent carotid artery stenting (CAS) and developed persistent neurological deficits shortly following the intervention. Delayed gadolinium enhancement of the cerebrospinal fluid space on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images indicated probable blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption. Post-procedural perfusion-weighted magnetic resonance images could not demonstrate distinct areas of hyperperfusion or hypoperfusion. The neurological deficits probably resulted from BBB disruption secondary to sudden hemodynamic change occurring during CAS.