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Differential Diagnosis for Splenic Infarct Mimicking CVA

Single Most Likely Diagnosis

  • Splenic Infarct with Systemic Emboli: A splenic infarct can lead to systemic emboli, which may cause a cerebral vascular accident (CVA) presenting with right lateral gaze and left-sided weakness. The profound anemia (Hgb 4) could be due to bleeding from the infarcted spleen.

Other Likely Diagnoses

  • Cerebral Vasculitis: Inflammation of the blood vessels in the brain could lead to symptoms mimicking a CVA, including weakness and gaze abnormalities. Systemic vasculitis could also involve the spleen, leading to infarction.
  • Hemorrhagic Stroke: A hemorrhagic stroke could present with sudden onset of weakness and gaze abnormalities. The profound anemia could be due to bleeding from the stroke itself.
  • Severe Sepsis: Sepsis can cause a systemic inflammatory response, leading to organ dysfunction, including cerebral and splenic involvement. The anemia could be due to sepsis-induced bleeding or hemolysis.

Do Not Miss Diagnoses

  • Aortic Dissection: An aortic dissection can lead to splenic infarction and cerebral emboli, presenting with the described symptoms. Missing this diagnosis could be fatal.
  • Pulmonary Embolism: A large pulmonary embolism can cause systemic hypoxia, leading to cerebral and splenic hypoperfusion. The anemia could be due to bleeding from anticoagulant therapy or underlying conditions.
  • Cardiac Tumor (e.g., Myxoma): A cardiac tumor can embolize to the brain and spleen, causing infarction and presenting with the described symptoms.

Rare Diagnoses

  • Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP): TTP is a rare disorder characterized by thrombocytopenia, microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, and organ dysfunction. It could present with cerebral and splenic involvement.
  • Antiphospholipid Syndrome: This autoimmune disorder can cause arterial and venous thrombosis, leading to splenic infarction and cerebral vasculature involvement.
  • Sickle Cell Disease: In patients with sickle cell disease, splenic infarction and cerebral vasculature involvement can occur due to sickling of red blood cells.

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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