Apoplexy

Answer 1

Apoplexy is a sudden neurological condition - stroke - or metaphorically a fit of outrage or anger.)

"I ran to him at once, calling to my mother. But haste was all in vain. The captain had been struck dead by a thundering apoplexy." (Robert Louis Stevenson - Treasure Island p. 40)

"The horseplay by his students would never fail to trigger apoplexy in the professor."

"The Iranian's admission to having an additional nuclear plant project under construction caused apoplexy among the nuclear powers."

Answer 2

Definition

Apoplexy is bleeding into an organ or loss of blood flow to an organ. For example, adrenal apoplexy is bleeding into the adrenal glands, pituitary apoplexy is bleeding into the pituitary gland, and so on.

When the word apoplexy (with no organ specified) is used alone, it often refers to stroke symptoms that occur suddenly. Such symptoms can be caused by bleeding into the brain or by a blood clot in a brain blood vessel. Conditions such as subarachnoid hemorrhage or stroke are sometimes called apoplexy.

Functional apoplexy is when a person appears to be having stroke-like symptoms but there is no brain abnormality.

References

Love BB, Biller J. Neurovascular system. In: Goetz, CG, ed. Textbook of Clinical Neurology. 3rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa : Saunders Elsevier; 2007: chap 22.

Serhal D, Weil RJ, Hamrahian AH. Evaluation and management of pituitary incidentalomas. Cleve Clin J Med. 2008;75(11):793-801.

Answer 3

Definition

Apoplexy is bleeding into an organ or loss of blood flow to an organ. For example, adrenal apoplexy is bleeding into the adrenal glands, pituitary apoplexy is bleeding into the pituitary gland, and so on.

When the word apoplexy (with no organ specified) is used alone, it often refers to stroke symptoms that occur suddenly. Such symptoms can be caused by bleeding into the brain or by a blood clot in a brain blood vessel. Conditions such as subarachnoid hemorrhage or stroke are sometimes called apoplexy.

Functional apoplexy is when a person appears to be having stroke-like symptoms but there is no brain abnormality.

References

Zivin JA. Approach to cerebrovascular disease. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 24th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2011:chap 413.

Zull D. Thyroid and adrenal disorders. In: Marx JA, Hockberger RS, Walls RM, et al, eds. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2009:chap 126.

Reviewed By

Review Date: 08/07/2011

Linda Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.