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Lacunar infarctions due to cholesterol emboli.
1Department of Neurology, Mont-Godinne Hospital (University of Louvain), Yvoir, Belgium.
Stroke
|November 1, 1991
Summary
Cholesterol emboli can cause lacunar infarcts, challenging the common view that hypertension is the sole cause. This finding highlights the importance of considering small cerebral emboli in lacune pathogenesis.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pathology
Background:
- Hypertension is the primary cause of lacunar infarctions.
- Cerebral emboli from cardiac or carotid sources are potential causes of lacunes.
- Cholesterol cerebral emboli are rarely reported as a cause of lacunes.
Observation:
- A 79-year-old patient with multi-infarct dementia presented with transient motor aphasia and right arm paresis.
- Computed tomography revealed lacunar infarcts in the basal ganglia and thalamus.
- Neuropathological examination showed cholesterol emboli occluding small cerebral arteries.
Findings:
- Lacunar infarcts were associated with multiple cholesterol emboli.
- Cholesterol material likely originated from atheromatous changes in the aortic arch.
- The findings confirm cholesterol emboli as a cause of lacunes.
Implications:
- Lacunar infarcts can result from cholesterol emboli.
- Small cerebral emboli should be considered in the differential diagnosis of lacunes.
- This broadens the understanding of lacunar infarction etiology.