Cerebrovascular disorders in young adults in Saudi Arabia. A study of 136 cases]

We report our experience of stroke in 136 young adults aged from 18 to 45 years seen in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia over a 10-year period. They constituted 25% of all our stroke cases. Thirty-eight percent were Saudi nationals and 62% expatriates. Males largely outnumbered females. The frequency of cerebral infarction (54%) was not very different from that of intracranial hemorrhage (45%). Atherosclerosis and embolism of cardiac origin were the major causes of infarction. The main causes of intracranial bleeding were arterial aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations and hypertension. However, the causes of 29% of ischemic strokes and 44% of hemorrhagic ones remained undetermined. Interethnic comparison of the causes showed that hemorrhages were significantly more frequent in Far East immigrants. Sixty five percent of cerebral infarctions in Asiatic patients remained of undetermined origin. The local variant of sickle cell gene did not seem to play a major role in the pathogenesis of stroke in the Saudi young adult. These data are commented and compared with similar reported data. The influence of the demographic structures of the Saudi population and immigrants communities is analyzed.     

103例成人继发性癫癎与病因分析

目的探讨成人继发性癫(?)的病因。方法回顾性分析我院近10年来住院诊断的103例成人继发性癫(?)的临床资料。结果 继发性癫(?)的病因依次为脑血管病(61/103)、脑炎脑膜炎(13/103)、颅内肿瘤(11/103)、代谢性疾病(5/103)、酗酒性肝硬化(5/103)、脑囊虫(2/103)、脑动静脉血管畸形(2/103)、放射性脑病(2/103)和中毒(2/103)。全身性强直-阵挛发作占56.31％,简单部分性发作占26.21％,复杂部分性发作占17.48％,癫(?)持续状态11例。本组继发性癫(?)的各类型卒中,脑血栓形成最多(占50.82％);其次为脑出血(占19.67％);蛛网膜下腔出血(占11.48％);脑栓塞(占11.48％);腔隙性脑梗死最少(占6.55％)。结论 脑血管病是成人继发性癫(?)的最主要病因,正确地诊断继发性癫(?)的病因和发作类型有助于及时正确的治疗。     

Stroke complicating pregnancy and the puerperium

Stroke complicating pregnancy and the puerperium in Taiwan and the comparison between Western and Eastern countries have not been well studied. We identified retrospectively 32 cases of stroke from 66 781 deliveries, including 21 intracranial hemorrhages and 11 cerebral infarctions from 1992 to 2004. The most common causes of intracranial hemorrhage were vascular anomaly (29%), pre-eclampsia/eclampsia (24%), undetermined (24%) and coagulopathy (19%). The most common causes of cerebral infarction were cardioembolism (36%), cerebral venous thrombosis (27%) and pre-eclampsia/eclampsia (18%). Perinatal adverse outcome included two stillbirths, nine premature deliveries and four abortions. The compiled results of previous studies and ours revealed that intracranial hemorrhage appeared to be slightly more common in Taiwan (43–69%) than in the Western countries (33–52%). The average maternal mortality rate was 17.8% (range 9–38) with 77.8% due to intracranial hemorrhage. The average incidence of stroke associated with pregnancy and the puerperium was 21.3 per 100 000 deliveries (range 8.9–67.1). Our study, different from the Western countries, showed that intracranial hemorrhage is slightly more common than cerebral infarction. Pre-eclampsia/eclampsia is an important cause of stroke, however, the possibility of cardioembolism in cerebral infarction and vascular anomaly in intracranial hemorrhage should be studied.     

中风后癫痫的临床研究

本文报告３６例中风后癫痫发作的临床和ＣＴ资料。通过回顾性病历复习和随访发现，中风后癫痫的发生率占同期住院中风患者的５．２６％，以蛛网膜下腔出血和脑栓塞发生癫痫比率最高，分别为１５％和１２．５％。癫痫发作与ＣＴ所见病灶分布密切相关，皮质病灶较皮质下病灶更易发生病病。癫痫发作可发生于中风后任何时期，但早期癫痫以出血性中风多见，而迟发性癫痫则更多见于脑梗塞患者。     

中国大陆妊娠相关性脑卒中314例临床资料分析

目的：探讨中国大陆地区妊娠相关性脑卒中和蛛网膜下腔出血的危险因素及临床特点。方法：计算机检索中文生物医学数据库（CBMdisc）、万方数据库、维普数据库及中国知网数据库,检索年限均为2000年1月至2012年6月,对中国大陆地区已发表的与妊娠相关的脑卒中文献进行总结分析。结果：检索到18篇文献中314例符合纳入标准的病例。314例中脑出血179例,脑梗死110例,蛛网膜下腔出血25例。于妊娠晚期脑出血为102／179例,发病率为57．0％;妊娠中期脑梗死49／110例,发病率为44．5％;蛛网膜下腔出血25例,占总发病数的8．0％。子痢前期／子痫导致的脑出血42．4％（76／179例）;动脉瘤破裂导致的蛛网膜下腔出血56．0％（14／25例）;心源性栓塞导致的脑梗死29．1％（32／110例）。结论：妊娠相关性脑卒中好发于妊娠晚期及产褥期。脑梗死好发于妊娠中期,脑出血好发于妊娠晚期。脑出血常见病因为子痫前期／子痫,蛛网膜下腔出血常见病因为动脉瘤破裂（多发于妊娠晚期）,脑梗死则为心源性栓塞。     

121例自发性颅内出血的病因和治疗方法探讨

目的:研究自发性颅内出血的病因诊断,并探讨其治疗方法。方法:病例经计算机体层摄影(CT)、磁共振成像(MRI)和腰穿等检查明确诊断及病因。74洲经手术治疗,21例经血管内治疗.9咧经伽玛刀(γ—刀)治疗,17例保守治疗。结果:121例自发性颅内出血中,动脉瘤46例,瞄血管畸形45例,动脉瘤合并血管畸形2例,颅内肿瘤卒中5例,烟雾病2例,21鲕J原因不明。结论:脑动脉瘤和血管畸形是自发性颅内出血最常见的病因(占74.4％),CT和MRI对出血的病因提供诊断线索,脑血管造影能明确病因诊断,根据病因不同、病变大小和部位不同选择合适的治疗方法,大型脑动静脉畸形(AVM)主张联合治疗。     

Stroke in young adults

Strokes in young adults are uncommon and often a diagnostic challenge. A retrospective study of strokes due to intracerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, or cerebral infarction was undertaken. We reviewed the medical records of 113 young patients aged 15-45 years who were admitted to the Medical Center Hospital of Vermont with a diagnosis of stroke between 1982 and 1987. This group comprised 8.5% of patients of all ages admitted for stroke, 2.3 times the proportion observed in the National Survey of Stroke. Nontraumatic intracerebral hemorrhage was diagnosed in 46 young patients (41%); the main causes included aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, hypertension, and tumors. Subarachnoid hemorrhage was found in 19 young patients (17%); the majority were due to aneurysms. The remaining 48 young patients (42%) had cerebral infarction, the majority due to cardiogenic emboli and premature atherosclerosis. Mitral valve prolapse, the use of oral contraceptives, alcohol drinking, and migraine were infrequent sole causes of cerebral infarction in the absence of other risk factors. The case-fatality rate for this group of young patients with stroke was 20.4% compared with 23.9% for the National Survey of Stroke. Young adults with stroke deserve an extensive but tailored evaluation, which should include angiography and echocardiography.     

Acute cerebrovascular disorders and myocardial infarction

A retrospective study in 1,314 cases with acute cerebrovascular disease was conducted. The clinical diagnosis included cerebral hemorrhage (CH) 489 cases, cerebral thrombosis (CT) 686 cases, cerebral embolism (CE) 68 cases, and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) 71 cases. Of the 1,314 cases there were 21 patients (1.6%) complicated with acute myocardial infarction during the stage of stroke. The percentage of incidence was 2 cases in CH (0.4%), 13 cases in CT (1.9%), 2 cases in CE (2.9%), and 4 cases in SAH (5%). Based on the detail cases reports the incidence, death rate, diagnosis, and pathogenesis of acute cerebrovascular disease complicated with myocardial infarction were discussed respectively.     

Cerebrovascular complications after orthotopic liver transplantation: a clinicopathologic study

We analyzed 55 autopsy cases in 1,357 patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation at the University of Pittsburgh and found that 13 (23.6%) patients had intracranial bleeding, and five (9%) had infarcts. Eight patients had bleeding localized to one intracranial compartment: intracerebral hemorrhage (three patients); subarachnoid hemorrhage (three patients); and subdural hematoma (two patients). Five patients had combinations of multiple sites of bleeding: three with subarachnoid hemorrhage-intracerebral hemorrhage, one with subarachnoid hemorrhage-intracerebral hemorrhage-subdural hematoma, and one with subdural hematoma-intracerebral hemorrhage. Coexistent CNS infections (fungal or bacterial) were associated with hemorrhagic infarcts and intracerebral hemorrhage in four patients. Cerebral embolism and hemorrhagic infarction from bacterial endocarditis occurred in one patient. Five patients died of intracranial bleeding. Severe coagulopathy was the major cause of intracranial bleeding and was associated with systemic bleeding in 12 patients. Significant systemic or metabolic complications were present in all patients and masked the focal signs of the intracranial process in more than one half.     

Incidence of stroke in young adults in Florence, Italy

A population-based study specifically addressing stroke in young adults (aged 15-44 years) was conducted in Florence, Italy, from 1983 to 1985. We identified 47 cases of first stroke by means of a daily check of the medical facilities of the city and nearby towns and a review of death certificates. Patients were assessed by a neurologist shortly after the onset of the stroke, and computed tomography or autopsy was performed in 96%. The average annual incidence rate for all stroke (cases per 100,000 population per year) was 9.0 (95% confidence interval 5.8-13.4) for males and 8.7 (95% confidence interval 5.5-13.0) for females. The average annual incidence rates for the pathologic types of stroke were 3.4 for cerebral infarction, 3.2 for subarachnoid hemorrhage, and 1.9 for intracerebral hemorrhage. The case-fatality ratio was 23.4% at 1 month. Among patients with ischemic strokes, atherosclerosis and cardiac disease accounted for 50% of the cases. Based on angiography or autopsy findings, aneurysm or arteriovenous malformation were demonstrated in 88% of the patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage. In 50% of the patients with intracerebral hemorrhage, no cause of bleeding was detected. Our study may supply information about stroke pathologic types in an unselected series of young adults.     

真性红细胞增多症并发脑卒中27例临床分析

目的 探讨真性红细胞增多症(PV)并发脑卒中的临床特点及治疗方法.方法 对27例PV并发脑卒中患者的临床资料进行回顾性分析.结果 (1)本组PV并发脑梗死22例(81.5%),其中多发性脑梗死18例(66.7%);短暂性脑缺血发作2例(7.4%);脑出血2例(7.4%);蛛网膜下腔出血(SAH)1例(3.7%).均符合PV的临床表现和体征及血象、骨髓象的改变.(2)影像学检查显示脑梗死以多发小梗死灶多见(66.7%),常见于脑叶、基底节、内囊;脑出血的出血灶内密度不均匀,周边水肿明显.(3)本组采用静脉放血加小剂量化疗治疗,脑卒中痊愈8例,显著进步18例,无效1例.结论 PV并发脑卒中以脑梗死多见,其中又以多发性梗死为主,并发脑出血和SAH较少,采用静脉放血加小剂量化疗治疗的效果较好.     

in-hospital mortality in patient with acute ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke

There is a lack of evidence to compare in-hospital mortality with different types of stroke. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the in-hospital mortality after acute ischemic/hemorrhagic stroke and compare the factors associated with the mortality among stroke subtypes. All patients admitted to Kurashiki Central Hospital in Japan between January 2009 and December 2009, and diagnosed with acute ischemic/hemorrhagic stroke were included in this study. Demographics and clinical data pertaining to the patients were obtained from their medical records. Out of 738 patients who had an acute stroke, 53 (7.2%) died in the hospital. The in-hospital mortality was significantly lower in the cerebral infarction group than in the intracerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage group (3.5%, 15.1%, and 17.9%, respectively; P<0.0001). Age was significantly lower in the subarachnoid hemorrhage group than in the other 2 groups. With regard to past history, diabetes mellitus was significantly found to be a complication in mortality cases of intracranial hemorrhage. Further investigation is needed to clarify the effect of diabetes on mortality after intracranial hemorrhage.     

出血性脑梗死的临床分析

目的：研究出血性脑梗死的原因、影像学及临床特征。方法：分析116例出血性脑梗死的原因、影像学及临床特征（出自1990-2001年治疗的2050例脑梗死病例）。结果：2050例脑梗死中出血性脑梗死占5.66％，最常见的原因是脑梗死（62.06%），特别是心源性。最早出现的出血性脑梗死为脑梗死后17小时。78例为血肿型，38例非血肿型。结论：出血性脑梗死应严格控制血压、血糖。临床症状及体征不变或加重，特别是脑梗死或大面积脑梗死，应检查或复查CT和（或）MRI。发现出血性脑梗死，应立即停用抗凝、溶栓治疗。     

Epidemiology of stroke in Lund-Orup, Sweden, 1983–85

The incidence of stroke in the hospital district of Lund-Orup (total population 200,191), the local uptake area of the University Hospital, Lund, was studied. Between January 1, 1983 and December 31, 1985, there were 1054 cases of first stroke. Age adjusted (to Swedish Dec 1983 population) incidence rates were 221.2 for males, 195.8 for females, and 208.3 for total population (per 100,000 and year). Case-fatality ratio by 30 days was 17.5%. Atherothrombotic infarction was the most common subtype (58.4%), followed in frequency by cardiac embolism (30.6%), intracerebral hemorrhage (8.3%) and subarachnoid hemorrhage (2.7%). The most important change in the distribution of subtypes with age was an increase in the proportion of cardiac embolism from 13% in the youngest to 44% in the oldest age groups. The present study underscores the importance of careful determination of subtypes of stroke in future epidemiological studies.     

Clinical picture of intracranial non‐traumatic dissecting aneurysm

Non‐traumatic intracranial arterial dissection has been accepted as a unique entity of ‘cerebral infarction in otherwise healthy young adults’, and is particularly prevalent in Western countries. A recent data collection and analysis have revealed additional clinical features. The nationwide study in Japan conducted in 1996 has provided new information on the natural history and current treatment of intracranial dissecting aneurysms in Japan. The incidence of symptomatic dissection was found to be much higher in the vertebrobasilar system than in the carotid system. The mean age of the patients was 51.3 years. Patients with carotid lesions were younger (mean 43.8 years). The male/female ratio was 2 : 1. Fifty‐eight percent of patients presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage. Recurrence was more frequent in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (14%) than in patients with no hemorrhage (4.2%). Common radiological findings were dilatation, ‘pearl and string’ sign and narrowing of the affected artery. Surgical treatment involved a variety of procedures including proximal occlusion, entrapment, wrapping and endovascular embolization. Patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (61%) underwent surgical treatment more frequently than patients with no hemorrhage (17%). Good recovery was achieved in 64% of all patients. Outcome was better in patients with no subarachnoid hemorrhage compared with those with hemorrhage.     

The Saudi Stroke Data Bank Analysis of the first 1000 cases

OBJECTIVES: To determine the types of stroke, their risk factors and their most likely causes in Saudi patients. METHODS: Data on stroke cases admitted to 2 major hospitals in Saudi Arabia since 1982 were collected retrospectively up to 1991 then prospectively since then. By January 1995, the number of cases with first-ever-stroke stored in our Saudi Stroke Data Bank reached 1280. This article describes the findings in the first 1000 Saudi patients investigated by brain computed tomography. RESULTS: Males (68%) outnumbered females. There was no significant difference between the retrospective cases and the prospective ones in relation to the types of stroke or the risk factors. Ischemic strokes accounted for 76% of the cases and one third of them were lacunar infarcts. Most of the hemorrhagic strokes were intracerebral hemorrhages (ICHs) and only 2% of all strokes were subarachnoid hemorrhages (SAHs). Hypertension (52%), diabetes mellitus (41%) and cardiac disorders were common risk factors. The commonest causes of cerebral infarcts were atherosclerosis 36%, hypertensive and/or diabetic arteriolopathy 24% and cardiac embolisms 19%. Hypertensive arteriolopathy accounted for two-thirds of the cerebral hemorrhages. Strokes related to small artery disease, i.e. lacunar infarcts and ICHs accounted for 47% of the cases. CONCLUSION: The overall distribution of stroke types in Saudis is not very different from that reported in western studies, except for the low frequency of SAH. However, the important role of small artery disease in stroke pathogenesis and the high number of diabetic patients are quite distinctive.     

动脉瘤性蛛网膜下腔出血并发脑血管痉挛患者血清血管内皮生长因子表达的变化

目的:探讨动脉瘤性蛛网膜下腔出血(SAH)并发脑血管痉挛(CVS)与血清血管内皮生长因子(VEGF)表达的关系.方法:27例动脉瘤性SAH患者为试验组(SAH组),再依据是否并发不同程度CVS分为:无CVS亚组(11例),轻度CVS亚组(9例)、中度CVS亚组(4例)和重度CVS亚组(3例);另设10名健康体检者为对照组.采用ELISA法检测血清VEGF水平.结果:SAH各时间点各组血清VEGF水平为①SAH组发病第1天起即明显高于对照组;②无CVS组不增高.SAH后第1、3、5、7天时血清VEGF水平为①轻度CVS组与中度CVS组相同时间点比较,差异无统计学意义;②重度CVS组明显高于轻度和中度CVS组.SAH后出现脑梗死患者血清VEGF水平明显高于未出现脑梗死患者.结论:SAH后出现CVS患者和出现脑梗死的患者血清VEGF水平明显增高,血清VEGF水平能反映脑血管痉挛的程度.     

Spontaneous intracranial internal carotid artery dissection: report of 10 patients

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous intracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) dissection is an uncommon cause of cerebral infarction, particularly when compared with the dissection of the ICA's cervical portion. Most reports describe extensive strokes with very high mortality rates. OBJECTIVE: To report the clinical and radiological findings of 10 patients with spontaneous intracranial ICA dissection. METHODS: Ten patients (5 women) were included with ages ranging from 15 to 59 years (mean age, 28 years). RESULTS: Nine patients had a stroke (1 had an associated subarachnoid hemorrhage), whereas 1 patient had only transient ischemic attacks. Severe retro-orbital or temporal headache followed by contralateral hemiparesis was the most common initial clinical symptom. No patient had vascular risk factors or a history of neck or head trauma. Stenosis of the supraclinoid portion of the ICA occurred in 8 patients, with extension to the middle cerebral artery or anterior cerebral artery in 2 patients each. Aneurysm formation in the ipsilateral anterior cerebral artery was seen in 1 patient. Two patients had a total occlusion of the supraclinoid portion of the ICA. All patients did well, with no (n = 3), mild (n = 4), or moderate (n = 3) disability on the Modified Rankin Scale during a 3-month follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Spontaneous intracranial ICA dissection can cause ischemic stroke with or without subarachnoid hemorrhage and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of intracranial ICA stenosis or occlusion, especially in young patients. Some patients survive with few or moderate deficits.     

Cerebrovascular disease in north-west India: a study of necropsy material.

The pattern of cerebrovascular disease in North-West India has been studied in a necropsy series of 362 cases over a 14 year period. One hundred and thirty eight cases of intracranial haemorrhage were found, 89 of cerebral embolism, 101 of cerebral arterial thrombosis and 34 of cerebral venous thrombosis. Nearly 37% of the affected patients were below 40 years of age. Cerebral embolism and cerebrovenous thrombosis were important causes of stroke in the young. Rheumatic heart disease and infective endocarditis formed the major causes of cerebral embolism. Cerebral venous thrombosis associated with pregnancy and puerperium was relatively more common in our series than has been reported in the West.     

Cerebral arterial dissection]

We investigated a total of 98 cases with stroke caused by cerebral arterial dissection recruited in Strategies against Stroke Study for Young Adults in Japan (SASSY-Japan). The most frequent site of dissection was the intracranial vertebrobasilar artery. The stroke subtype was divided into ischemic (TIA and cerebral infarction) and hemorrhagic types (subarachnoid hemorrhage). The ischemic type was predominant (69%) and patients with the ischemic type were younger than those with the hemorrhagic type (P < 0.01). In the intracranial arterial dissection, nearly all cases were of the ischemic type. In contrast, in the extracranial arterial dissection, 60% of cases were ischemic and 40% were hemorrhagic. Cerebral angiography was the most important diagnostic procedure in the hemorrhagic type. In the ischemic type, MRI and MRA were more frequently used to show the findings specific to the dissection such as an intimal flap or double lumen and intramural hematoma. The outcome at discharge is generally good such that the modified Rankin Score was among 0-II in 69% of cases. However, in the hemorrhagic type, recurrence during an acute stage was frequent, and the outcome was poor with a mortalit rate of 19%. The establishment of an effective intervention to prevent the recurrence of subarachnoid hemorrhage is urgently required.