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Published on: August 18, 2015
Hereditary connective tissue diseases in young adult stroke: a comprehensive synthesis
Olivier M Vanakker1, Dimitri Hemelsoet, Anne De Paepe
1Center for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, De Pintelaan 185, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
Insights
Monogenic connective tissue diseases, including vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and collagen disorders, can cause stroke, especially in young adults. Early diagnosis relies on recognizing key clinical features associated with these rare genetic conditions.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Genetics
- Rheumatology
Background:
- Stroke is often polygenetic or multifactorial.
- Monogenic diseases can cause stroke, particularly in young adults.
- Connective tissue diseases are an under-recognized cause of stroke.
Purpose of the Study:
- To discuss connective tissue disorders associated with stroke.
- To highlight clinical features for diagnosing these conditions.
- To increase awareness of monogenic stroke causes.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of connective tissue diseases and stroke.
- Analysis of clinical features for diagnostic clues.
- Synthesis of information on vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome and collagen disorders.
Main Results:
- Vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is a known cause of stroke.
- Disorders related to Type IV collagen are emerging causes of stroke.
- Other connective tissue diseases can also present with stroke.
Conclusions:
- Connective tissue disorders are important differential diagnoses for stroke in young adults.
- Recognizing specific clinical features aids in diagnosing these genetic conditions.
- Further research is needed to understand the full spectrum of genetic stroke causes.
Abstract:
Though the genetic background of ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke is often polygenetic or multifactorial, it can in some cases result from a monogenic disease, particularly in young adults. Besides arteriopathies and metabolic disorders, several connective tissue diseases can present with stroke. While some of these diseases have been recognized for decades as causes of stroke, such as the vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, others only recently came to attention as being involved in stroke pathogenesis, such as those related to Type IV collagen. This paper discusses each of these connective tissue disorders and their relation with stroke briefly, emphasizing the main clinical features which can lead to their diagnosis.
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