Lacunar stroke in a hypertensive football player: implications in managing hypertension in athletes.

PURPOSE: A 28-year-old hypertensive professional football player suffered a lacunar stroke. Given the rarity of stroke at this young age, the contributory roles of hypertension and competitive athletics merit consideration.

CASE SUMMARY: A 28-year-old defensive lineman, with long-standing, albeit recently well-controlled hypertension, experienced slurred speech and veering to his right after a game. Computerized tomography revealed a small internal capsule infarct. Diagnostic investigation, including coagulation profiling, sickle screen, antiphospholipid antibody, carotid imaging, and echocardiography did not reveal a cause. The patient recovered within days with no residual impairment.

DISCUSSION: Despite the extreme blood pressure elevation associated with isometric straining in young athletes, stroke almost never occurs. Vascular changes resulting from chronic hypertension and/or marked volume depletion, and hemoconcentration resulting from restricted salt intake, diuretic use, and heavy sweating, offer the only explanations for this stroke.

RELEVANCE: The case suggests physicians should exercise caution in using diuretics and salt-restricted diets to treat hypertensive athletes. Guidelines for treatment are discussed.