The vascular effects of infection in Pediatric Stroke (VIPS) Study

Heather J Fullerton1, Mitchell S V Elkind, A James Barkovich

  • 1Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, 94143-0114, USA.

Insights

Infection may cause childhood arterial ischemic stroke through vascular injury. Arteriopathy and inflammation markers may predict recurrent stroke in pediatric patients.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Pediatric Stroke
  • Vascular Biology

Background:

  • Childhood arterial ischemic stroke (AIS) necessitates understanding underlying mechanisms for effective secondary prevention.
  • The role of infection in pediatric AIS and its association with vascular injury requires further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the hypothesis that infection contributes to childhood AIS via vascular injury.
  • To determine if arteriopathy and inflammatory markers predict recurrent stroke in children.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective enrollment of 480 children (1 month to 18 years) with AIS.
  • Collection of infectious histories, biological samples (blood, serum, CSF), and neurovascular imaging.
  • Laboratory analysis of serologies, herpesviruses, and inflammatory markers, with 1-year follow-up for recurrent events.

Main Results:

  • Analysis will correlate infection markers with cerebral arteriopathy.
  • Assessment of the predictive value of arteriopathy and inflammatory markers for recurrent stroke.

Conclusions:

  • Findings will clarify the link between infection and pediatric stroke pathophysiology.
  • This research aims to inform secondary stroke prevention strategies in children.

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