Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty Can Facilitate Rehabilitation in Patient With Hemispatial Neglect: A Case Report

ABSTRACT The superiority of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) over maximal medical therapy for symptomatic intracranial artery stenosis in terms of secondary prevention has yet to be proved. However, several studies have reported that PTA can improve cortical symptoms and cognitive dysfunctions in selected patients with intracranial artery stenosis. Recently, we experienced a 75‐year‐old woman with acute ischemic stroke due to right middle cerebral artery stenosis, presenting with hemispatial neglect of the left side as well as left hemiparesis, which was treated with PTA in the subacute stage. She showed improvement of the hemispatial neglect after PTA, which accelerated the rehabilitation, resulting in a good prognosis. It is known that the presence of neglect syndrome hampers rehabilitation and is associated with a poor outcome. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the performance of PTA to improve hemispatial neglect for successful rehabilitation.