Acute headache followed by focal neuropsychological impairment in cerebral autosomal dominant arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL).

Occasionally, patients with Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy with Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL) present atypical features such as confusion, coma, or nonconvulsive status epilepticus. Acute focal neuropsychological syndrome revealing the disease has been poorly documented. We report the atypical presentation of two patients in whom CADASIL was revealed by an episode of headache followed by focal neuropsychological impairment. (c) 2010 National Stroke Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.