Background: Cocaine has been shown to cause cytotoxic neuronal damage, which has been implicated in cases of leukoencephalopathy. We present a case of cocaine-induced toxic encephalopathy resulting in predominant lesions to the gray matter on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Case Presentation: A 70-year-old female presented acutely with confusion, agitation, and disorientation. She was markedly hypertensive with other vital signs within normal range. On presentation to the emergency department, she was uncooperative and had an unsteady gait but showed no focal neurological deficits. Her lab work was positive for elevated cardiac troponins, elevated D-dimer, and a urine drug screen positive only for cocaine. Head computed tomography (CT) showed no hemorrhage and head CT angiogram showed no abnormalities and no significant vascular stenosis. Chest X-ray and CT showed diffuse ground glass opacities compatible with atypical pneumonia. Antibiotics were initiated to treat the pneumonia and antihypertensives were administered to manage her blood pressure. She was also given IV thiamine. Brain MRI showed restricted diffusion involving bilateral hippocampi, thalami, putamen, caudate, and right occipital lobe, findings suspicious for cytotoxic edema. After acute stabilization, the patient demonstrated profound anterograde and retrograde amnesia, which improved gradually over days to weeks. She was eventually discharged to a skilled nursing facility. Conclusion: To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of profound amnesia secondary to cocaine-induced toxic encephalopathy with bilateral hippocampal involvement. These symptoms correlate with the implicated neuroanatomical structures. This case demonstrates that cocaine may be implicated in toxic encephalopathy affecting the brain’s gray matter and highlights a unique presentation of these findings.

Objective: Emerging evidence suggests a possible link between the COVID-19 pandemic and a rise in GDM prevalence, however, this relationship is not well characterized. This study assesses socioeconomic and medical risk factors associated with GDM across phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. Design: A retrospective cohort of all maternal deliveries from October 2015 - May 2022 was stratified between Pre-Pandemic, Lockdown, and Post Lockdown phases. Maternal demographics, gestational characteristics, and medical pregnancy complications were assessed. Setting: Sutter Sacramento Medical Center, a large community hospital in Sacramento, CA. Population: All maternal deliveries from October 2015 through May 2022 were included. Methods: Contingency tables, Χ ² tests of independence, and logistic regression models were applied for data analysis. Main Outcome Measures: A total of 41,246 deliveries were evaluated. GDM prevalence was 5.4% overall (4.1% Pre-Pandemic, 7.6% Lockdown, 7.1% Post Lockdown). Results: Adjusted odds of GDM were 1.62 in Lockdown (95% CI:1.41-1.85) and 1.462 in Post Lockdown (95% CI:1.307-1.635). Variables associated with GDM included maternal age ≥35 years, Hispanic ethnicity, Asian or “Other” race, obesity, multiple gestation, PCOS, and preeclampsia. Risk factors for GDM were similar across the three periods. Conclusions: The surge in GDM prevalence observed during the Lockdown and Post Lockdown periods was not fully explained by identified socioeconomic and medical risk factors. COVID-19 pandemic-specific factors may underlie these trends.