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Updated: Jul 12, 2026

Longitudinal In Vivo Imaging of the Cerebrovasculature: Relevance to CNS Diseases
Published on: December 6, 2016
[Long-term prognosis of children with cerebrovascular disease]
Insights
Pediatric cerebrovascular disease (CVD) outcomes vary by stroke type. Hemorrhagic stroke (HS) and ischemic stroke (IS) in children present different causes, affected brain regions, and resulting disabilities, though severe outcomes are rare.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pediatrics
- Vascular Medicine
Context:
- Cerebrovascular disease (CVD) in children is uncommon, with limited data on long-term prognosis.
- Understanding the differences between hemorrhagic stroke (HS) and ischemic stroke (IS) in pediatric populations is crucial for effective management.
Purpose:
- To investigate and compare the prognoses of pediatric hemorrhagic stroke (HS) and ischemic stroke (IS).
- To analyze the etiologies, affected brain regions, and sequelae in children following HS and IS.
Summary:
- This study reviewed 71 pediatric CVD cases (43 HS, 28 IS), analyzing clinical courses and sequelae after at least one year.
- Etiologies differed: arteriovenous malformation rupture in HS, and traumatic brain injury/surgical complications in IS.
- Sequelae included physical and mental disabilities, epilepsy, and higher brain dysfunction, with severe outcomes being infrequent.
Impact:
- Findings highlight distinct etiological pathways, neurological involvement, and long-term functional outcomes for HS versus IS in children.
- This research provides valuable insights for pediatric neurologists and healthcare providers managing childhood stroke.
- The data can inform targeted interventions and improve prognostication for pediatric CVD patients.
Objective:
Reports of the prognosis of cerebrovascular disease (CVD) in children have not been common. We investigated the prognoses in 71 children with CVD, which were composed of 43 and 28 patients, suffering from hemorrhagic stroke (HS) and ischemic stroke (IS), respectively. They were followed for at least one year after the stroke event.
Methods:
The average age of onset was 9 years 8 months in HS and 6 years 8 months in IS, the present ages being 13 years 5 months and 12 years 5 months, respectively. The medical records were reviewed, and the clinical courses during the acute stage and the state of sequelae were investigated.
Results:
The etiologies were rupture of the arteriovenous malformation in 29 cases in HS, and traumatic brain damage, during rewarming from hypothermia therapy or during operations such as for heart diseases in IS. An age-related characteristic was seen in the heart diseases operation group. The main damaged regions were the frontal lobe, temporal lobe, parietal lobe, and cerebellum in HS, and the middle cerebral arterial area, basal ganglia, and frontal lobe in IS. The damage in the infra-tentorial area was more frequent in HS than in IS. The sequelae comprised physical disabilities in 39 cases with HS and 25 cases with IS, mental disabilities in 11/11, epilepsy in 4/7, and higher brain dysfunction such as attention deficit in 31/26. Severe disabilities were low as one case each.
Conclusion:
The etiology, region, and sequelae differed between HS and IS in children.
Related Concept Videos
Ischemic Stroke l: Introduction
Ischemic Stroke ll: Pathophysiology
Hemorrhagic Stroke l: Introduction
Hemorrhagic Stroke ll: Pathophysiology
Secondary Spinal Cord Injury llI: Pathophysiology

