Subclavian Steal Phenomenon With Right Hemiparesis A Case Report

Subclavian Steal Syndrome results from stenosis of the subclavian artery proximal to the origin of the vertebral artery. This rare disease, commoner in males results in reversal of the normal direction of blood flow in the vertebral artery from the cerebral circulation.

We report a case of a 42 year old female who presented with right sided hemiparesis and history of giddiness, precipitated by activity involving right upper limb especially with overhead abduction. Radial and Brachial pulsations in right upper limb were absent. Echocardiogram, MR brain angio, Aortogram and right upper limb arterial Colour Doppler confirmed a right subclavian steal. This rare condition even rarer in females had an unusual right upper limb involvement instead of the usual left upper limb involvement. Though she had initially presented as a Cerebrovascular accident she was finally found to have a subclavian steal.