Inflammatory causes of stroke-Diagnostics and treatment

Abstract

Inflammatory causes of stroke are frequent and often pose diagnostic and therapeutic challenges due to the scarcity of randomized trials and the absence of clear guideline recommendations for many scenarios. Following the publication of the recommendations of the European Stroke Organization on primary angiitis of the central nervous system (PACNS) last year, the German Neurological Society (DGN) has issued very clear guidelines this year on the diagnostics and treatment of PACNS and updated the recommendations for systemic vasculitides; however, stroke often occurs not only as aresult of primary vascular inflammation but also as acomplication of another organ infection. Approximately 5% of all patients with sepsis, ca. 20% of patients with bacterial meningitis and up to 40% of patients with bacterial endocarditis suffer from astroke as acomplication. This article summarizes the key characteristics of these inflammatory causes of stroke and particularly focuses on the current recommendations for diagnostic and therapeutic management.