Risk factors for lacunar stroke: a case-control transesophageal echocardiographic study.

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Lacunar stroke is a common type of ischemic stroke.
• Identifying independent risk factors is crucial for stroke prevention.
• The role of embolic sources, particularly aortic arch atheroma, requires further clarification.

Purpose of the Study:

• To reassess independent risk factors for lacunar stroke.
• To investigate the association between aortic arch atheroma and lacunar stroke.
• To clarify the role of potential embolic sources in lacunar stroke etiology.

Main Methods:

• Case-control study design.
• Inclusion of 62 patients with first lacunar stroke and 202 controls.
• Utilized transesophageal echocardiography and duplex ultrasonography for risk factor assessment.

Main Results:

• Hypertension identified as a significant independent risk factor (p < 0.001).
• Smoking confirmed as an independent risk factor (p = 0.001).
• Aortic arch atheroma showed independent association with lacunar stroke risk (p = 0.006).

Conclusions:

• Hypertension, smoking, and aortic arch atheroma are independently associated with increased lacunar stroke risk.
• The mechanistic link between aortic arch atheroma and lacunar stroke remains uncertain.
• Further research is needed to elucidate the causal relationship between aortic arch atheroma and lacunar stroke.