Cryptogenic stroke in young patients: long-term prognosis and recurrence.

BACKGROUND: Around 40% of strokes in young people are labelled as infarcts of undetermined cause. The aim of this study was to determine the image characteristics, the long-term functional outcome and recurrence after cryptogenic ischaemic stroke. METHODS: We studied ninety-eight patients under 45 years of age during a median follow up of 54 months (range 12-238), with ischaemic stroke of undetermined cause. We registered vascular risk factors, clinical syndrome, laboratory and imaging results. We used Rankin disability score to assess functional outcome. The cases were evaluated with intracranial and extracranial vascular imaging studies, echocardiogram, and at least two determinations of prothrombotic states. RESULTS: In our hospital 11% of the patients with cerebral infarction under 45 years of age were labelled as cryptogenic. The mean age of the cases was 39.5 ± 5, 48 (49%) were women, 6 (6%) had arterial hypertension, 7 (7%) prior history of migraine, 32 (33%) were active smokers, 11 (11%) had hypercholesterolemia, and 11 (11%) had alcoholism. All cases were treated with aspirin. We observed good functional outcome (Rankin 0-2) in 65 (65%) cases. The anterior circulation was the most affected (partial in 56%, total in 12%). Infarction was unique in 87 (88%) cases. Recurrence was observed in 4 (4%) cases. CONCLUSIONS: In this study cryptogenic cerebral infarctions were mostly single, had low recurrence and good functional outcome in the long-term follow-up. Total anterior circulation infarctions correlated with poor outcome.

Differences in lipid profiles in two Hispanic ischemic stroke populations.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The study aims to compare lipid profiles among ischemic stroke patients in a predominantly Caribbean-Hispanic population in Miami and a Mestizo Hispanic population in Mexico City. METHODS: We analyzed ischemic stroke Hispanic patients with complete baseline fasting lipid profile enrolled contemporaneously in the prospective registries of two tertiary care teaching hospitals in Mexico City and Miami. Demographic characteristics, risk factors, medications, ischemic stroke subtype, and first fasting lipid profile were compared. Vascular risk factor definitions were standardized. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to compare lipid fractions. RESULTS: A total of 324 patients from Mexico and 236 from Miami were analyzed. Mexicans were significantly younger (58 · 1 vs. 67 · 4 years), had a lower frequency of hypertension (53 · 4% vs. 79 · 7%), and lower body mass index (27 vs. 28 · 5). There was a trend toward greater prevalence of diabetes in Mexicans (31 · 5 vs. 24 · 6%, P = 0 · 07). Statin use at the time of ischemic stroke was more common in Miami Hispanics (18 · 6 vs. 9 · 4%). Mexicans had lower total cholesterol levels (169 · 9 ± 46 · 1 vs. 179 · 9 ± 48 · 4 mg/dl), lower low-density lipoprotein (92 · 3 ± 37 · 1 vs. 108 · 2 ± 40 · 8 mg/dl), and higher triglyceride levels (166 · 9 ± 123 · 9 vs. 149 · 2 ± 115 · 2 mg/dl). These differences remained significant after adjusting for age, gender, hypertension, diabetes, body mass index, smoking, ischemic stroke subtype, and statin use. CONCLUSION: We found significant differences in lipid fractions in Hispanic ischemic stroke patients, with lower total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein, and higher triglyceride levels in Mexicans. These findings highlight the heterogeneity of dyslipidemia among the Hispanic race-ethnic group and may lead to different secondary prevention strategies.

Endovascular treatment: balloon angioplasty versus nimodipine intra-arterial for medically refractory cerebral vasospasm following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Cerebral vasospasm (CV) accounts significant morbimortality after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. The objective of this study was to compare the clinical outcome of patients with CV treated by 2 endovascular procedures: intra-arterial nimodipine angioplasty (IANA) and balloon angioplasty (BA). Between 2008 and June 2011, we performed 22 IANA and 8 BA in 30 patients. The mean age was 44 years and 60% was female. In 17 patients, the treatment was clipping, whereas 13 underwent coil treatment. The CV was severe in 63%, moderate in 30%, and mild in 7%. Good outcome between 2 groups was similar (P = .36). The clinical outcome according to the subgroups of CV severity and modality treatment was equivalent (P = .22). Mortality at 3 months was 16% and 20% at 1 year. We did not find differences in the clinical outcome despite the fact that both techniques produce adequate angiographic resolution of CV.

Infarto cerebral criptogénico en pacientes jóvenes. Pronóstico y recurrencia a largo plazo / Cryptogenic stroke in young patients: Long-term prognosis and recurrence

Antecedentes: En menores de 45 años, el infarto cerebral (IC) criptogénico representa hasta el 40% de los casos. El objetivo de la presente serie es determinar la tasa de recurrencia, la evolución clínica funcional a largo plazo y las características de imagen de pacientes menores de 45 años, con IC criptogénico. Métodos: 98 pacientes con diagnóstico confirmado de IC criptogénico fueron seguidos durante una mediana de 54 meses (rango de 12 a 238). Registramos los datos demográficos, factores de riesgo, hallazgos clínicos, de laboratorio y de imagen, así como las complicaciones y la evolución funcional. La evaluación de los casos incluyó estudios de imagen vascular intra y extracraneal, ecocardiograma y dos determinaciones de estudios protrombóticos. Resultados: Esta serie representa el 11% de los casos de IC en jóvenes en nuestro hospital. La edad promedio de los casos fue de 39,5±5, 48 (49%) fueron mujeres, 6 (6%) tenían hipertensión arterial, 11 (11%) hipercolesterolemia, 7 (7%) antecedente de migraña, 32 (33%) de tabaquismo activo y 11 (11%) de alcoholismo. Todos los casos fueron manejados con aspirina. Se observó buen pronóstico funcional (Rankin 0 a 2) en 65 (66%) casos y recurrencia en 4 (4%). La circulación anterior (parcial en 56%, total 12%) fue la más afectada y en 87 (88%) casos el infarto fue único. Conclusiones: En esta serie, los IC criptogénicos fueron mayoritariamente únicos, con baja recurrencia y buen pronóstico funcional a largo plazo. Los infartos totales de circulación anterior se correlacionaron con mal pronóstico (AU)

Background: Around 40% of strokes in young people are labelled as infarcts of undeterminedcause. The aim of this study was to determine the image haracteristics, the long-term functional outcome and recurrence after cryptogenic ischaemic stroke. Methods: We studied ninety-eight patients under 45 years of age during a median follow up of 54 months (range 12-238), with ischaemic stroke of undetermined cause. We registered vascular risk factors, clinical syndrome, laboratory and imaging results. We used Rankin disability score to assess functional outcome. The cases were evaluated with intracranial and extracranialvascular imaging studies, echocardiogram, and at least two determinations of prothromboticstates. Results: In our hospital 11% of the patients with cerebral infarction under 45 years of age were labelled as cryptogenic. The mean age of the cases was 39.5±5, 48 (49%) were women, 6(6%) had arterial hypertension, 7 (7%) prior history of migraine, 32 (33%) were active smokers,11 (11%) had ypercholesterolemia, and 11 (11%) had alcoholism. All cases were treated withaspirin. We observed good functional outcome (Rankin 0-2) in 65 (65%) cases. The anteriorcirculation was the most affected (partial in 56%, total in 12%). Infarction was unique in 87(88%) cases. Recurrence was observed in 4 (4%) cases.Conclusions: In this study cryptogenic cerebral infarctions were mostly single, had lowrecurrence and good functional outcome in the long-term follow-up. Total anterior circulationinfarctions correlated with poor outcome (AU)