Rare Genetic Disease, Not Dentist โขVisit, Caused Man’s Post-Extraction Brain Hemorrhage, Study Finds
PARIS – A man who suffered a cerebral hemorrhage shortly after a routine dental extraction has been found to have a rare genetic disease, CADASIL, as the underlying cause, according to a newly published case study. The incident initially raised concerns about a potential link between dental procedures and intracranial bleeding,butโ researchers have definitively attributed the โฃhemorrhage to the patient’s pre-existing condition.
The case, detailed by โstudy authors, marks the frist documented instance of an intracranialโค hemorrhage occurring โคinโ a โคCADASIL patient following dental work. CADASIL (Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy with Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy) is a rare, hereditary disease affecting blood vessel walls, reducing cerebralโ blood flow. It impacts an estimated 2โข in 100,000 people andโ can mimicโ symptoms of neurological diseases like multiple sclerosis, making diagnosis challenging.
The patient underwent extraction of two teeth.Following the procedure, he โexperienced a cerebral hemorrhage. โคExamination revealed a โmutation in โคthe โขNotch3 gene, directly โฃlinked to CADASIL. This โขpathology causes thickening of blood vessel walls and reduced blood flow to the brain. Symptoms can include visionโข problems and difficulty walking.
Whileโ the hemorrhage โwasn’tโฃ directly caused by the dental extraction, the procedure likely acted as aโ trigger in a patientโ already predisposed to bleedingโค due to the geneticโฃ condition. Treatment with medication to control high blood pressure and long-term aspirin therapyโข to improve โcerebral circulation have as helped manage the patient’s symptoms and prevent further strokes. The findings underscore the importance of a thorough medical history, including family history, before any invasive procedure, notably in patients with unexplained neurological symptoms.
