Clinical and imaging characteristics in cryptogenic ischaemic stroke with right-to-left shunt / 中国神经精神疾病杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the clinical and imaging characteristics in cryptogenic stroke with right-to-left shunt (RLS). Methods Fifty-two patients with cryptogenic ischaemic stroke were included in the study and divided into two groups according to transcranial Doppler (TCD) bubble test: RLS group (twenty-five patients) and non-RLS group (twenty-seven patients). The demographic data, traditional risk factors of stroke and characteristics of le?sion patterns were compared between two subgroups. Results There was no significant difference between the groups in age or sex ratio. The percentage of patients with no risk factors was significantly higher in RLS group than non-RLS group (44%vs. 14.8%, P=0.015). The lesion was more frequently observed in the vertebrobasilar artery territory in RLS group (56%vs. 14.8%, P0.05). Conclusions Vertebrobasilar Stroke without traditional cerebrovascular risk factors is more likely to be RLS-associated, which requires an advanced TCD bubble test to find the potential cause of stroke.