BACKGROUND: Causes of ischemic stroke in young adults (15-45 years) are diverse, but undetermined etiology is common in a majority of studies. AIMS: The present series study aims to evaluate causes and changes in the etiological diagnosis of ischemic stroke in young adult patients admitted to a tertiary medical center over a period of 27 years. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients with a first-ever stroke in the age range of 15-45 years who were admitted to the '12 de Octubre' University Hospital between 1974 and 2002. RESULTS: 272 young adults with ischemic stroke were identified. The etiological diagnoses were: undetermined in 36% of patients, large-artery atherosclerosis in 21%, cardioembolism in 17%, non-atherosclerotic vasculopathy in 17%, and other specific etiologies in 9%. While in the first study period (1974-1988) 45% of patients were diagnosed with uncertain etiology, in the last period (1989-2002) only 26% were diagnosed with cryptogenic stroke (45% with two or more potential etiologies identified; 45% with no identified cause despite complete evaluation, and 10% with incomplete evaluation). CONCLUSIONS: The etiological diagnosis of stroke in young adults has changed over time as a result of improvements in diagnostic workup. While cryptogenic stroke was the most frequent diagnosis in the past, today specific causes (non-atherosclerotic vasculopathy, large-artery atherosclerosis, cardioembolism and hematological disorder) are identified in the majority of patients. 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel
BACKGROUND: Causes of ischemic stroke in young adults (15-45 years) are diverse, but undetermined etiology is common in a majority of studies. AIMS: The present series study aims to evaluate causes and changes in the etiological diagnosis of ischemic stroke in young adult patients admitted to a tertiary medical center over a period of 27 years. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients with a first-ever stroke in the age range of 15-45 years who were admitted to the '12 de Octubre' University Hospital between 1974 and 2002. RESULTS: 272 young adults with ischemic stroke were identified. The etiological diagnoses were: undetermined in 36% of patients, large-artery atherosclerosis in 21%, cardioembolism in 17%, non-atherosclerotic vasculopathy in 17%, and other specific etiologies in 9%. While in the first study period (1974-1988) 45% of patients were diagnosed with uncertain etiology, in the last period (1989-2002) only 26% were diagnosed with cryptogenic stroke (45% with two or more potential etiologies identified; 45% with no identified cause despite complete evaluation, and 10% with incomplete evaluation). CONCLUSIONS: The etiological diagnosis of stroke in young adults has changed over time as a result of improvements in diagnostic workup. While cryptogenic stroke was the most frequent diagnosis in the past, today specific causes (non-atherosclerotic vasculopathy, large-artery atherosclerosis, cardioembolism and hematological disorder) are identified in the majority of patients. 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel
Authors: Elisa Fabbri; Lisa Rustignoli; Antonio Muscari; Giovanni M Puddu; Maria Guarino; Rita Rinaldi; Elena Minguzzi; Giacomo Caio; Marco Zoli; Umberto Volta Journal: World J Gastroenterol Date: 2012-07-14 Impact factor: 5.742
Authors: L Tancredi; F Martinelli Boneschi; M Braga; I Santilli; C Scaccabarozzi; P Lattuada; M Sessa; L Fumagalli; S Iurlaro; I Neromante; M L De Lodovici; D V Roccatagliata; G Giacalone; M Arnaboldi; V Crespi; E Agostoni; G C Comi; C Ferrarese; R Sterzi Journal: Stroke Res Treat Date: 2013-02-26