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A Thrombotic Stroke Model Based On Transient Cerebral Hypoxia-ischemia
06:01

A Thrombotic Stroke Model Based On Transient Cerebral Hypoxia-ischemia

Published on: August 18, 2015

Pediatric endocarditis and stroke: a single-center retrospective review of seven cases

Charu Venkatesan1, Mark S Wainwright

  • 1Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois 60614, USA. cvenkatesan@childrensmemorial.org

Pediatric Neurology
|March 25, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric strokes from infective endocarditis are rare but manageable. While outcomes vary, children may recover better than adults, suggesting aspirin and aneurysm surveillance are beneficial.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Cardiology

Background:

  • Limited data exists on pediatric strokes secondary to infective endocarditis.
  • Infective endocarditis poses significant risks, including cerebral infarcts, in children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize the clinical course and outcomes of pediatric patients experiencing strokes due to infective endocarditis.
  • To identify potential management strategies and prognostic factors for these patients.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective study of seven pediatric patients with infective endocarditis and cerebral infarcts at an urban tertiary-care academic center.
  • Analysis of clinical presentation, cardiac history, stroke characteristics, interventions, and outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Seven out of 115 infective endocarditis patients had strokes, predominantly in the middle cerebral artery distribution.
  • Congenital heart disease was present in four patients; three had surgically repaired mycotic aneurysms.
  • All patients survived, though neurologic recovery was variable, with younger infants experiencing worse outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • Pediatric stroke secondary to infective endocarditis, while uncommon, appears to have better outcomes compared to adults.
  • Routine surveillance for mycotic aneurysms and consideration of aspirin therapy warrant further investigation in managing these cases.

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