Brain Disorders & Therapy

Stroke and drug abuse - Histopathological changes of cerebral vessels related to narcotic drugs

Global Summit on Stroke

August 03-05, 2015 Birmingham, UK

Panagiotis Zogopoulos, Stamatios Theocharis, Efstratios Patsouris and Emmanouil Agapitos

Posters-Accepted Abstracts: Brain Disord Ther

Abstract:

D rug abuse is a significant problem of modern societies with tremendous socioeconomic consequences. Although numerous narcotic substances exist, most commonly abused ones are heroin, cocaine, cannabis and amphetamine. There are several case reports of drug abuse related stroke in the literature, but a systematic study of the potential changes of the cerebral vessels is missing. Cerebrovascular events reported include intracerebral and subarachnoid hemorrhage, subdural hematoma and ischemic/embolic infarctions. We have conducted a post-mortem (autopsy) study comparing cerebral vessels of drug abusers versus healthy controls. Histopathological changes observed on drug abusersâ?? cerebral vessels include vascular lumen thrombosis, platelet aggregation, atherosclerosis, transmural and perivascular infiltration of small cerebral vessels by inflammatory cells, granulomas, dilatation of perivascular spaces with protein exudate and fibrinoid necrosis of the medium and intima. These changes are the consequences of vessel wall ischaemia and cerebrovascular diseases (infection, vasculitis), usually observed on drug abusers, and can lead to vascular thrombosis or rupture. This study was conducted with the support of IKY Fellowships of Excellence for postgraduate studies in Greece â?? Siemens Program

Biography :

Zogopoulos Panagiotis is a resident of Neurosurgery at the General Hospital of Nikaia-Piraeus “Agios Panteleimon”, Athens, Greece. His ongoing research is in the field of drugs and their interaction with human brain and cerebral vessels. Several of his papers have been published in reputed peer-review journals and he has presented various researches in international conferences.

Email: p.zogopoulos@yahoo.com