Progressive dementia, visual deficits, amyotrophy, and microinfarcts.

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Vascular Neurology
• Neuroscience

Background:

• Cerebral microinfarction is increasingly recognized as a cause of neurological impairment.
• The clinical presentation and underlying mechanisms require further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the clinical syndrome associated with cerebral microinfarction.
• To identify common features and potential etiologies.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of three patient cases.
• Review of 22 previously reported cases in the literature.

Main Results:

• A recognizable clinical syndrome emerged, including stroke, progressive dementia, visual field deficits, peripheral vascular disease, and motor neuron dysfunction.
• Average age of onset was 45 years, predominantly in men.
• Associated conditions included valvular and ischemic heart disease, with mitral stenosis noted as a cause of embolic microinfarcts.

Conclusions:

• Cerebral microinfarction can lead to a specific clinical presentation.
• Early identification of risk factors, such as heart disease, is crucial for management.