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Updated: May 4, 2026
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A Magnetic Resonance Imaging Protocol for Stroke Onset Time Estimation in Permanent Cerebral Ischemia
Published on: September 16, 2017
16.7K
Characteristics of wake-up stroke.
Aki Tanimoto1, Prachi Mehndiratta2, Brian B Koo2
1Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio.
Summary
Wake-up stroke (WUS) often results from small-vessel disease and affects younger patients. Poorer cholesterol profiles and frequent snoring may be contributing factors in WUS.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- Wake-up stroke (WUS) constitutes a significant portion of ischemic strokes, yet its underlying mechanisms remain unclear.
- Understanding WUS is crucial for developing targeted prevention and treatment strategies.
- This study investigates the unique characteristics and risk factors associated with WUS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify demographic, clinical, and etiological factors differentiating wake-up stroke from other ischemic strokes.
- To explore the role of sleep characteristics and lipid profiles in the occurrence of WUS.
Main Methods:
- A comparative analysis of 72 ischemic stroke cases, categorized as WUS or non-WUS.
- Data collection included demographics, medical history, lipid profiles, stroke severity (NIHSS), and stroke mechanism (TOAST criteria).
- Sleep apnea screening (Berlin questionnaire) and sleep characteristic assessments were performed.
Main Results:
- WUS patients were younger and more frequently African American than non-WUS patients.
- Small-vessel disease was a significantly more common mechanism for WUS (42.9% vs. 14.0%).
- WUS patients exhibited significantly worse lipid profiles (higher LDL, higher cholesterol/HDL ratio) and a tendency towards more frequent snoring.
Conclusions:
- Wake-up stroke is often associated with small-vessel disease.
- Elevated cholesterol levels and frequent snoring may be significant contributing factors to WUS.
- Further research into these factors could lead to improved WUS management.
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