Pediatric Stroke in a United Arab Emirates (UAE) Tertiary Care Center: A Retrospective Descriptive Study
Rahaf A Lazek1, Waseem Fathalla2
1Pediatric Medicine, Sheikh Shakhbout Medical City, Abu Dhabi, ARE.
Insights
Pediatric stroke cases in the UAE show common presentations like arterial ischemic stroke, often linked to moyamoya disease. Advanced interventions like mechanical thrombectomy were underutilized despite eligibility.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Pediatric Medicine
- Radiology
Background:
- Pediatric stroke is a critical neurological emergency with limited data from the UAE.
- Understanding its characteristics is vital for improving patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To detail the clinical and radiological features of pediatric stroke in the UAE.
- To identify common etiologies and management patterns.
- To assess eligibility and utilization of acute interventions like mechanical thrombectomy.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of pediatric stroke patients (<16 years) from 2000-2025.
- Analysis of neuroimaging, clinical presentation, and etiologies.
- Evaluation of treatment patterns, including acute interventions.
Main Results:
- 19 pediatric stroke cases analyzed; 89.5% were arterial ischemic strokes, with moyamoya disease as the leading cause (47.4%).
- Motor weakness and focal seizures were common presentations, varying by age.
- Mechanical thrombectomy was underused, with only 1 of 5 eligible patients receiving it.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric stroke in the UAE shares global trends in presentation and etiology.
- Limited utilization of advanced therapies like mechanical thrombectomy necessitates improved access and protocols.
- Earlier recognition and standardized diagnostics are crucial for timely pediatric stroke management.
Background:
Pediatric stroke is a rare, serious neurological emergency with evolving management paradigms. Data from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) remains limited.
Objective:
To describe the clinical presentation, radiological findings, etiologies, and management patterns of pediatric stroke, with special focus on eligibility for specialized acute interventions such as mechanical thrombectomy.
Methods:
This retrospective review analyzed pediatric patients below 16 years of age diagnosed with stroke and admitted or evaluated between January 2000 and January 2025.
Results:
19 pediatric stroke cases were included and classified based on neuroimaging findings. Most patients were male (78.9%), with a mean age at onset of 6.8 years. Arterial ischemic stroke was the most prevalent (89.5%) compared to venous and hemorrhagic strokes. Among the identified etiologies, moyamoya disease (47.4%) is the most common etiology, followed by cardiac disorders (26.3%). Clinical presentation varied by age group. Motor weakness (69.2%) was the most common initial manifestation in childhood and adolescent groups, whereas focal seizures were most common (80%) in neonatal stroke. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was the primary imaging modality. Middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory involvement (76.5%) and left-sided strokes (58.8%) were most frequent. Multifocal infarcts and hemorrhagic transformations were observed in 29.4% and 17.6%, respectively. No patient received t-PA; despite the availability of mechanical thrombectomy (MT), only one patient underwent the procedure, although five patients (26%) met eligibility criteria for MT.
Conclusion:
While imaging and clinical features aligned with global trends, advanced intervention utilization remained limited. These findings highlight the need for earlier recognition, standardized diagnostic protocols, and improved access to specialized stroke therapies to enhance timely management in pediatric cases.
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