Stroke in pheochromocytoma: A novel mechanism

Central nervous system manifestations of pheochromocytomas usually result from hypertension, hemorrhage, and tumors when it is part of heritable syndromes. We describe a unique case where obvious causes are lacking for an ischemic stroke. Recent advances in cell biology have elucidated the role of endothelium and vascular smooth muscle cell in vascular flow regulation. We propose a novel mechanism for an increased risk of ischemic stroke that occurs during the hyperadrenergic state. New pharmacological agents used to treat stroke that act on the various pathways proposed in our mechanism are reviewed. The following core competencies are addressed in this article: Patient care and medical knowledge.