Demographic and Clinical Features of Patients With Pediatric Stroke: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Objective: In the pediatric age group, it is important to detect the risk factors of stroke and diagnose it early, and prevent the recurrence of the disease. This study aimed to conduct a descriptive analysis of demographic and clinical characteristics of pediatric stroke cases in the 0-18 age group and to evaluate the relationship between etiologic causes, risk factors and functional status of these cases. Material and Methods: The medical files of the patients followed up by the Department of Pediatric Neurology of Ankara Training and Research Hospital were retrospectively examined. Cerebral magnetic resonance imaging and laboratory data were recorded. The Gross Motor Function Classification System, Box and Block Test, Nine-Hole Peg Test were used to evaluate the patients’ current functional status. Results: In 34 pediatric hemiplegic stroke cases, the median age of the onset of symptoms was one year (minimum 0, maximum 15 years). At the time of evaluation, hemiparesis was found in 73.5% of the cases and 41.2% had active seizures. Heterozygous factor V Leiden mutation was present in 17.6% of the patients, and homozygous MTHFR (c677c) mutation in 5.9%. When the etiologic factors were evaluated, there was a mass effect due to venous bleeding in 50%, arterial bleeding in 44.1%, and intracranial bleeding in 5.9% of the cases. Prophylaxis had been performed in 47.1% of the patients. There were no significant differences in functional parameters according to thrombophilic risk factors, whether the etiology was of arterial or venous origin, or whether they underwent prophylaxis (p>.05). Conclusion: Half of the patients had a stroke of venous origin, and hemiparesis was present in approximately two-third of the cases. Functioning levels seemed to be independent of the presence of etiologic source or thrombophilic risk factors of the disease.