Related Experiment Videos
[Prevalence of certain risk factors in lacunar strokes as compared with cortico-subcortical strokes]
D Ryglewicz1, M Barańska-Gieruszczak, A Rozenfeld
1Kliniki Chorób Naczyniowych Układu Nerwowego, Instytut Psychiatrii i Neurologii, Warszawie.
Insights
Lacunar stroke may stem from carotid artery issues, not just hypertension. Moderate carotid artery stenosis was linked to lacunar stroke, suggesting embolism as a cause.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Vascular Neurology
- Stroke Medicine
Background:
- Lacunar strokes are small, deep brain infarcts.
- Risk factors for different stroke types require further elucidation.
- Cerebral embolism is a known stroke mechanism.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze risk factors associated with lacunar stroke.
- To compare risk factors between lacunar and large superficial/deep ischemic lesions.
- To investigate the potential role of carotid artery stenosis in lacunar stroke etiology.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of clinical records.
- Comparison of risk factors in patients with lacunar stroke versus large superficial/deep ischemic lesions.
- Analysis of imaging findings (CT, MRI) and autopsy data for lesion characterization.
Main Results:
- Hypertension was more frequent in lacunar stroke but not statistically significant.
- Large stenotic lesions of the internal carotid artery were more common in patients with large superficial/deep lesions.
- Moderate stenotic lesions of the internal carotid artery were more common in patients with lacunar stroke.
Conclusions:
- Lacunar stroke may be associated with moderate internal carotid artery stenosis.
- Cerebral embolism from carotid sources is a potential cause of lacunar stroke.
- Further research is warranted to confirm the embolic origin of lacunar stroke.
Abstract:
Clinical records were reviewed to analyse occurrence of hypertension and other risk factors that may predispose to the development of lacunar stroke. The comparison of risk factors associated with deep, small, ischaemic lesions of the brain (revealed in 67% by CT, in 31% by MRI and in 2% by autopsy) and large superficial or superficial and deep ischaemic lesions (diagnosed in 89% by CT, 4% by MRI and 7% by autopsy) was done. Hypertension, treated and untreated, was more frequent in lacunar stroke, but the difference was not statistically significant. Statistically significant difference was found in large stenotic lesions of internal carotid artery, which were more common in patients with large superficial or superficial and deep lesions (watershed area) and in moderate stenotic lesions of internal carotid artery, which were more common in patients with lacunar stroke. The results suggests that lacunar stroke may be caused by cerebral embolism from carotid sources.