Improvement in Compensation for Chronic Poststroke Homonymous Hemianopsia After Initiation of a Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor: A Case Report.

Abstract

Homonymous hemianopsia (HH) is a common adverse outcome after stroke. Spontaneous improvement more than 6 months poststroke is thought to be unlikely, and traditional visual rehabilitation techniques lack clear evidence of efficacy. The case presented is of a 22-year-old woman who demonstrated improved compensation of her stroke-induced HH after the initiation of a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). There is evidence supporting the use of SSRIs to improve poststroke cognitive impairment, motor impairment, and depression. This is the first case, however, demonstrating the potential novel use SSRIs to improve HH compensation after stroke, to our knowledge.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE:

V.

• Authors: Benjamin A Abramoff, S Byron Milton, Samir R Belagaje
• Journal: PM & R : the journal of injury, function, and rehabilitation (PM R) Vol. 9 Issue 7 Pg. 727-731 (Jul 2017) ISSN: 1934-1563 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 27871966 (Publication Type: Case Reports, Journal Article, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2017 American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Serotonin Uptake Inhibitors

Topics

• Chronic Disease
• Cognition (drug effects)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Drug Administration Schedule
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Hemianopsia (diagnostic imaging, drug therapy, etiology)
• Humans
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (methods)
• Risk Assessment
• Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (therapeutic use)
• Severity of Illness Index
• Stroke (complications, diagnosis)
• Time Factors
• Tomography, X-Ray Computed (methods)
• Treatment Outcome
• Young Adult