Stroke in Saudi Arabian young adults: a study of 120 cases

One hundred and twenty cases of stroke occurring in Saudi Arabian subjects aged 15 to 45 years are reviewed. These constituted 12.7% of a group of 946 stroke patients. Males outnumbered females (76/44). The frequency of intracranial hemorrhage, including subarachnoid hemorrhage, was slightly lower than cerebral infarction (41.5 vs 58.5%). The causes of large cerebral infarction were as follows: atherosclerosis 17 (28%), cardiac embolism 12 (19.5%), uncommon and uncertain causes 21 (34.5%). Some unusual causes were encountered such as dissecting arterial aneurysm due to popular healing manoeuvres or to traditional dance, retrograde embolism from a thoracic outlet syndrome or embolism from a fibroelastoma of the mitral valve chorda. Lacunar cerebral infarction was diagnosed in nine cases. Hypertension (25.5%) and arteriovenous malformations (20.5%) were the main causes of cerebral hemorrhage; all subarachnoid hemorrhages except one were due to berry aneurysms. The cause was undetermined in 16% of cerebral infarction and 26% of intracranial hemorrhage. The high frequency of stroke in young Saudi Arabian adults is probably a reflection of the demographic structure of the predominantly young Saudi society. The observed causes were relatively similar to those in industrial societies. Contrary to other developing countries infectious disease no longer seems to be an important cause of stroke. Drug abuse, which is becoming an important cause in Western societies, was encountered in only two of our cases.     

Intracerebral hemorrhage versus infarction: Stroke severity,risk factors,and prognosis

The purpose of this study was to compare stroke severity, risk factors, and prognosis in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage versus infarction. We prospectively studied 1,000 unselected patients with acute stroke of a verified type in the Copenhagen Stroke Study. Neurological deficits and functional disabilities were evaluated weekly from the time of acute admission throughout the rehabilitation period. Eighty-eight (9%) had intracerebral hemorrhage. The relative frequency of intracerebral hemorrhage rose exponentially with increasing stroke severity. In multivariate analyses, stroke type had no influence on mortality, neurological outcome, functional outcome, or the time course of recovery. Initial stroke severity was the all-important prognostic factor. The relative importance of hypertension and blood pressure on admission was not greater for intracerebral hemorrhage than for infarction. No preponderance was found between type of stroke and sex, age, and smoking. Diabetes, ischemic heart disease, and elevated serum total cholesterol level all favored cerebral infarction as opposed to intracerebral hemorrhage. We conclude that the type of stroke per se has no influence on stroke prognosis in general; the extent of the injury is decisive. The poorer prognosis in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage is due to the increase in frequency of intracerebral hemorrhage with increasing stroke severity. The likelihood of cerebral infarction occuring as opposed to intracerebral hemorrhage seems increased fivefold in stroke patients with diabetes. Hypertension and blood pressure on admission were not predictors of stroke type.     

Discharge disposition of patients on an acute stroke unit.

Problems with patient flow through our Acute Stroke Unit prompted us to examine delays in discharging patients. We analyzed age, gender, stroke type, length of stay, discharge disposition, and cause of discharge delay for all patients with transient ischemic attack, cerebral infarction, and intracerebral hemorrhage admitted to the Acute Stroke Unit between January 1, 1994 and December 31, 1996. During this time, 729 patients were admitted; 58% were male. The median age was 71 years, and the median length of stay was 13 days (range 1 to 241 days). Seventy-five percent of the patients were admitted with cerebral infarction, 15% with transient ischemic attack, and 10% with intracerebral hemorrhage. Overall in-hospital case-fatality was 13%. Discharge was delayed in 29% of survivors. Of the survivors, 24% went home after alterations to the home environment, 62% were transferred to a rehabilitation facility, and 14% to a nursing home. Based on current figures, the cost of these delayed discharges was approximately 1.5 million Canadian dollars per year. Such "bed-blocking" necessitated admitting patients to nonneurological nursing units, which interfered with the operation of the Acute Stroke Unit. Costs could be reduced by expediting the transfer of patients when acute care is no longer needed.     

Stroke in young adults in Japan]

The details of stroke in young adults remain unknown in Japan. We performed a multicenter survey to establish a stroke data bank for young adults in Japan. We collected clinical data of 7,245 acute stroke patients admitted to 18 hospitals in Japan. In patients admitted within the first 7 days of stroke, patients aged = < 50, = < 45, and = < 40 accounted for 8.9%, 4.2%, and 2.2%, respectively. Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, and non-valvular atrial fibrillation were significantly more frequent in the non-young than in the young, but smoking habits and patent foramen ovale were more frequent in the young than in the non-young. Brain infarction was the most predominant stroke subtype in the non-young, but not so in the young (62.6% vs. 36.7%, p < 0.01). Brain hemorrhage (20.8% vs. 32.1%, p < 0.01) and subarachnoid hemorrhage (7.3% vs. 26.1%, p < 0.01) were more frequent in the young. Causes of brain infarction and hemorrhage were often atypical in the young (2.8% vs. 25.1%, p < 0.001 and 4.6% vs. 20.2%, p < 0.0001, respectively). Causes of stroke in the young was often atypical, such as cerebral arterial dissection, Moyamoya disease, antiphospholipid syndrome, arteriovenous malformation, et al. Because causes and underlying risk factors of stroke in young adults were quite different from those in older patients, we need to establish the data bank and to explore optimal measures of the diagnosis and management for young stroke patients.     

Community Hospital-based Stroke Programs: North Carolina, Oregon, and New York. II: Description of study population

The three Community Hospital-based Stroke Programs collected data on 4132 stroke patients admitted to acute care hospitals during 1979 and 1980. White female stroke patients were older than the white male, nonwhite female and nonwhite male stroke patients. Nearly one-fourth (23%) of stroke patients were employed at the time of the event. Most (77%) of the patients were hospitalized for first stroke episodes. Eighty-three percent of the patients had at least one of the four major risk factors for stroke, namely, hypertension, diabetes, transient ischemic attacks and cardiac disease. Half (49%) of the patients were alert at the time of admission. The three diagnostic categories included infarction (60%), stroke not otherwise specified (30%) and hemorrhage (10%). Fourteen days was the median length of hospitalization; 50% of the stroke patients were discharged to a home setting, 31% were institutionalized and 19% died while in the hospital. The mean Barthel Index score for 2400 patients at the time of discharge was 61.8 (normal is 100). Of those patients who were working at the time of the stroke, 22% returned to work. In comparison to the patients in the National Survey of Stroke, patients in this Study were less severe at the time of admission (49% of patients in the National Survey of Stroke were stuporous or comatose compared to 21% of the patients in the current Study). The inhospital fatality was 30.7% in the National Survey of Stroke, and 19.7% in the current Study.     

Secondary brain stem hemorrhage in stroke

The occurrence of secondary brain stem hemorrhage was studied in 435 autopsies from patients with recent cerebral hemorrhage, infarction or ruptured cerebral aneurysms. The frequency of secondary brain stem hemorrhage was found to be 45% in cerebral hemorrhage, 15% in cerebral infarction, and 36% in ruptured aneurysms. In the majority of cases the secondary brain stem hemorrhage occurred a few days after the onset of cerebral hemorrhage or infarction. Ruptured aneurysms showed a more widespread temporal distribution of secondary brain stem hemorrhage. The median survival time was 2 days in cases of cerebral hemorrhage, 4 days in ruptured aneurysm and 4 days in cerebral infarction. The frequency of secondary brain stem hemorrhage was significantly lower in patients younger than 20 years. No significant difference was found in its distribution between the sexes. Secondary occipital lobe infarction was present in 3.5% of the patients. It is concluded that secondary brain stem hemorrhage is a common major contribution to the cause of death in stroke.     

Intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator therapy for ischemic stroke: Houston experience 1996 to 2000.

CONTEXT: Intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) therapy using the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke criteria has been given with variable safety to less than 5% of the patients who have ischemic strokes nationwide. Our center is experienced in treating large numbers of stroke patients with intravenous tPA. OBJECTIVE: To report our total 4-year experience in the treatment of consecutive patients who had an ischemic stroke. DESIGN: Prospective inception cohort registry of all patients seen by our stroke team and an additional retrospective medical record review of all patients treated between January 1, 1996, and June 1, 2000. SETTING: A veteran stroke team composed of fellows and stroke-specialty faculty servicing 1 university and 3 community hospitals in a large urban setting. PATIENTS: Consecutive patients with ischemic stroke treated within the first 3 hours of symptom onset. INTERVENTION: According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke protocol, 0.9 mg/kg of intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator was administered. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Number and proportion treated, patient demographics, time to treatment, hemorrhage rates, and clinical outcome. RESULTS: A total of 269 patients were treated between January 1, 1996, and June 1, 2000. Their mean age was 68 years (age range, 24-93 years); 48% were women. This represented 9% of all patients admitted with symptoms of cerebral ischemia at our most active hospital (over the final 6 months, 13% of all patients with symptoms of cerebral ischemia and 15% of all acute ischemic stroke patients). Before treatment the mean +/- SD National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was 14.4 +/- 6.1 points (median, 14 points; range, 4-33 points). A tPA bolus was given at 137 minutes (range, 30-180 minutes); 28% of the patients were treated within 2 hours. The mean door-to-needle time was 70 minutes (range, 10-129 minutes). The symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage rate was 5.6% of those patients with a second set of brain scans (4.5% of all patients), with a declining trend from 1996 to 2000. Protocol violations were found in 13% of all patients; the symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage rate in these patients was 15%. At 24 hours, the NIHSS score was 10 +/- 8 points (median, 8 points; range, 0-36 points). In-hospital mortality was 15% and the patients' discharge NIHSS scores were 7 +/- 7 points (median, 3 points; range, 0-35 points). CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous tPA therapy can be given to up to 15% of the patients with acute ischemic stroke with a low risk of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage. Successful experience with intravenous tPA therapy depends on the experience and organization of the treating team and adherence to published guidelines.     

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.     

Intracranial arterial and arteriovenous malformations presenting with infarction. Lausanne Stroke Registry study.

Cerebral aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) are well-known sources of intracranial hemorrhage, but can also manifest as other clinical symptoms or remain clinically asymptomatic. The aim was to document and analyze cases of aneurysm or AVM with brain infarction. Survey on 4804 stroke patients treated at the Department of Neurology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland between 1978 and 2000 using the Lausanne Stroke Registry. Twenty patients presented with cerebral aneurysm and 21 with cerebral AVM. Hemorrhage was present in 100% of the AVM and in 75% of the aneurysm patients; in one (5%) of the remaining aneurysm patients, aneurysm and infarction were located in different territories. Infarction associated with Sylvian artery aneurysm was found in three (15%), vertebrobasilar ischemia because of fusiform left vertebral artery aneurysm in one (5%), and dural fistula draining to the distal transversal and left sigmoid sinus associated with a stroke in the territory of the left anterior inferior cerebellar artery in one patient. Ischemic stroke is infrequent, but important, complication in unruptured intracranial aneurysms and AVMs. The early recognition and therapy of these vascular malformations in selected patients can avoid a major neurological deficit or death caused by their rupture.     

The Barcelona Stroke Registry

The Barcelona Stroke Registry was established to collect clinical data of hospitalized patients with stroke, in order to study their clinical characteristics and outcome. Data were collected over a 17-year period in 3,577 consecutive patients with first-ever stroke admitted to a stroke unit in two university hospitals in the city of Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain). Patients were generally admitted within 48 h from stroke onset, were evaluated by a neurologist, and clinical data were collected using a standardized protocol. All subjects underwent computerized tomography (CT) examination. Data on the 3,577 patients revealed the following stroke subtypes: cerebral infarction (81%), corresponding to the varieties of atherothrombotic (39.5%), cardioembolic (17.5%), lacunar (11%), unusual (5%), or unknown (8%); and cerebral hemorrhage. We analyzed age distribution (mean age 66 years); risk factors (the most frequent being hypertension, present in 54% of cerebral infarctions and in 65% of hemorrhages); clinical manifestations (the most salient being abrupt onset in one half of the cases; high frequency of decreased consciousness in cardioembolic infarction; headache, seizures and nuclear palsy in 'unusual' cerebral infarctions; vomiting and coma in hemorrhage); localizations by vascular territories; mechanisms of the various stroke subtypes; complications (present in one third of patients, with a mortality of 14%), and outcome. Two out of 3 hospitalized stroke patients are first-ever stroke sufferers. Neuroimaging shows a cerebral infarct in 86.5% of cases. Clinical and laboratory investigations cannot determine the mechanism of 8% of infarcts and of 23% of hemorrhages. The high frequency of medical complications, mortality, and disability highlights the need to establish stroke units and stroke registries in order to perform further research into the diagnosis and management of patients with cerebrovascular disease.     

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.     

Stroke subtypes among Chinese living in Hong Kong: the Shatin Stroke Registry.

The Shatin Stroke Registry is a prospective study of all patients admitted with acute stroke to a general hospital in Hong Kong where the population is predominantly Chinese. Each patient was examined by a neurologist and 95.5% of the patients had a brain CT. Of 777 patients included in the study, 44.0% had a cortical/subcortical infarct, 18.5% a supratentorial lacunar infarct, 24.2% a supratentorial intracerebral hemorrhage, 5.8% brainstem/cerebellar infarct, 2.9% a brainstem/cerebellar hemorrhage, and 4.5% an uncertain diagnosis. The overall 30-day case fatality rate was 25.4%. Comparison with five stroke registries from the West suggests that intracerebral hemorrhage occurs between two and three times more frequently in the Chinese than in Westerners. Whether there is any difference in the relative frequencies for lacunar infarction remains unclear.     

Ischemic stroke in Korean young adults

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the characteristics of ischemic stroke in Korean young adults. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We prospectively studied 149 consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke aged between 15 to 44 years who were admitted to Asan Medical Center. All patients underwent brain CT/MRI and the majority of them underwent cerebral anglogram, echocardiography and laboratory studies for coagulopathy and vasculitis. Stroke subtypes were classified according to TOAST criteria. RESULTS: In our study, men (75.2%) significantly outnumbered women. Stroke subtypes were: large artery atherosclerosis 20.8%), small artery occlusive disease 17.4%), cardioembolism 18.1%, undetermined causes 16.8%, and other determined etiologies 26.8%. The prevalence of hypertension, cigarette smoking and habitual alcohol consumption was significantly higher in men than in women. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to the western studies, the deviation of sex ratio and the relative proportion of large artery atherosclerosis/small artery occlusion was higher. Heavy exposure to risk factors such as hypertension and cigarette smoking in Korean young men may explain these differences.     

New methods of intensive therapy in stroke: hemicraniectomy in patients with complete middle cerebral artery infarction and treatment of intracerebral and intraventricular hemorrhage with urokinase

Life-threatening, complete middle cerebral artery infarction occurs in up to 10% of all stroke patients. The "malignant media occlusion" is an infarction occupying more than 50% of middle cerebral artery territory. The malignant, space-occupying supratentorial ischemic stroke is characterised by a mortality rate of up to 80%. Several reports indicate, that hemicraniectomy in this situation can be life-saving. Hemicraniectomy increases cerebral perfusion pressure and optimises retrograde perfusion via the leptomeningeal collateral vessels. A case of a patient is presented, having progressive neurological deterioration due to massive cerebral infarctions. The patient rehabilitation was successful. Decompressive surgery is life saving and can also give acceptable functional recovery. Hemorrhagic stroke is due to stroke in 15% of cases and in 10%, it is "spontaneous" intracerebral hematoma. The intracerebral and intraventricular hemorrhage represents one of the most devastating types of stroke associated with high morbidity and mortality. The 30-day mortality rate is 35% to 50% and most survivors are left with a neurological disability. The value of surgical therapy is debatable. The aspiration and urokinase therapy of the hematoma of intracerebral hemorrhage could improve final neurological outcome. Spontaneous, nontraumatic intraventricular hemorrhage frequently carries a grave prognosis. A large part of morbidity after intraventricular hemorrhage is related to intracranial hypertension from hydrocephalus. One patient presented had intracerebral hemorrhage and another had intraventricular hemorrhage treated with urokinase. Rapid and extensive reduction in the amount of intracerebral and intraventricular blood occurred. Urokinase lysis is safe and can be a potentially beneficial intervention in intracerebral and intraventricular hemorrhage. By performing decompressive craniectomy, the neurologists of stroke departments and intensive care units with the neurosurgeons will have to play major role in the management of stroke patients.     

Etiology of stroke in patients with Wernicke's aphasia

We reviewed 49 patients with Wernicke's aphasia resulting from a stroke. Their aphasia was classified on the basis of comprehensive neuropsychological testing. Wernicke's aphasia was more common in older patients and in men. Cerebral infarction occurred in 38 patients (78%) and intracerebral hemorrhage in seven (14%); the remaining four patients (8%) developed aphasia after surgery for aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Embolic events were the most common etiology of Wernicke's aphasia in the 38 patients with cerebral infarction, with cardiac emboli in 40% and large-vessel atheroemboli from a carotid source in 16%. In patients with Wernicke's aphasia secondary to infarction, an embolic source should be sought. Patients with Wernicke's aphasia should have computed tomography to exclude intracerebral hemorrhage before institution of anticoagulant therapy.     

Trends of stroke subtypes mortality in Sao Paulo, Brazil (1996-2003)

The decline of stroke mortality rates has been described in Brazil; however, there is no data about stroke subtypes. We described the changes of stroke mortality rates in the city of Sao Paulo (1996-2003) emphasizing intracerebral hemorrhage and cerebral infarction. We categorized mortality data by gender and 10-year age-strata from 30 to 79 years-old. For men, an annual reduction of all types of stroke (-3.9%), and of stroke subtypes as intracerebral hemorrhage (-3.0%) and cerebral infarction was observed (-2.7%) as well as, a decline of ill-defined stroke (-7.4%). For women, a decline was observed for all types of stroke (-3.3%) and for ill-defined stroke (-12%). However, the switch of ill-defined cases to stroke subtype categories due to a better clinical diagnosis blurred a real decline of both cerebral infarction and intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke among women.     

动脉瘤破裂致蛛网膜下腔出血患者死亡原因分析

目的 探讨动脉瘤破裂致蛛网膜下腔出血患者住院期间死亡的原因并提出相应的对策. 方法 回顾性分析江苏大学附属人民医院神经外科自2003年1月至2010年12月收治且住院期间死亡的24例颅内动脉瘤破裂致自发性蛛网膜下腔出血患者的临床资料和死亡原因.结果 死亡原因分别为:颅内再出血11例,其中术前再出血5例,介入栓塞术中出血3例,栓塞术后颅内再次出血3例;术后脑血管痉挛或脑梗死8例,其中早期(术后3d内)CT表现为脑梗死3例,晚期(术后3d后)脑血管痉挛或脑梗死5例;椎动脉瘤栓塞术后呼吸骤停1例;肺部感染3例;肾功能衰竭1例. 结论 颅内再次出血、脑梗死或脑血管痉挛、非神经系统并发症是动脉瘤性蛛网膜下腔出血患者住院期间主要的死亡原因.     

Stroke after burn

BACKGROUND: Stroke is regarded as a possible complication of burn. Some author reported that stroke developed in 22% of burned patients. However, the true incidence and the clinical characteristics of stroke occurring after burn injury are unknown. METHODS: We reviewed the medical records of patients who had been admitted to the Burn Center at the Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital between January 1997 and May 2005. Patients with mild burns who did not require admission to the hospital were excluded from the study. Stroke patients were selected. RESULTS: A total of 13,468 patients were admitted due to burn injury during the above-mentioned period. Nine (0.07%) patients (5 men, 4 women; mean age, 55 years) developed stroke while being under treatment for their burn injuries. The median duration between the burn injury and stroke onset was 33 days (range, 2-307). The mean surface area of the burn wound was 21% (range, 3-50). Ischemic infarction was observed in 4 patients, intracerebral hemorrhage in 3 others, and multiple hemorrhagic infarction and subdural hematoma in 1 patient each. Seven out of the 9 patients revealed the presence of septic conditions that occurred subsequent to the burn. CONCLUSION: Stroke is a rare complication of a burn injury in the clinical setting. It develops in moderate burns (10-50% of the total body surface area) after some time. Prevention of infection/sepsis is important to alleviate the occurrence of a stroke in these patients.     

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。