A Case of Steroid-Associated Expressive Aphasia

Abstract

Expressive aphasia (non-fluent aphasia) is characterized by the inability to produce words or sentences. The most common cause of expressive aphasia is stroke, usually due to thrombus or emboli in the middle cerebellar artery or internal carotid artery affecting Broca's area. We present an important, reversible, and previously undescribed cause of a purely expressive aphasia secondary to steroid use. A case of a steroid-induced expressive aphasia has not yet been described in the medical literature. Recognition of this presentation is critical to appropriate therapy and excess morbidity, particularly as steroid (dexamethasone) utilization has increased since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords: aphasia; broca’s; reversible; reversible adverse effect; steroid.