Non-atherosclerotic arteriopathy as the cause of ischemic stroke among young adults

Med Pregl. 2010 May-Jun;63(5-6):324-32. doi: 10.2298/mpns1006324j.
[Article in English, Serbian]

Abstract

The study comprised 100 ischemic stroke patients of both sexes aged 15-45 years who were treated at the Clinic of Neurology of the Clinical Center of Vojvodina in the period January 2001-September 2004. All study subjects were divided into three age groups: 15-25, 26-35 and 36-45 years. Sex, age and risk factors for cerebrovascular disease were determined in all patients. Diagnostic procedures applied in all patients included brain computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging, routine laboratory tests, Doppler imaging of extra and endocranial blood vessels and coagulation tests. Contrast and/or transesophageal echocardiography, immunological blood assays, magnetic resonance angiography and/or computed tomography angiography and/or conventional angiography, thrombophilia markers, antiphospholipid antibodies and toxicological examination, etc. were performed in selected patients. Non-atherosclerotic arteriopathies were found in 8% of all study subjects, and were the most frequent cause of stroke in the age group 15-25. Carotid artery dissection was the most frequent diagnosis overall, found in 6% of all patients. Fibromuscular dysplasia and systemic vasculitis were diagnosed in one patient each. Moyamoya disease, Takayasu disease, infectious and isolated vasculitis of the CNS were not found in our patients.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Brain Ischemia / etiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Stroke / etiology*
  • Vascular Diseases / complications*
  • Young Adult