PO01-MO-05 Subtypes of ischemic stroke and vascular risk factors in young adults

Abstract

Purpose: There is rare report on stroke subtypes in Middle East. The aim of this study is to evaluate the characteristics of stroke subtypes in young adults. Method: The current hospital-based study was done on 93 admitted stroke patients in Alzahra hospital, Isfahan, Iran form Jan 2006 to 2007. Patients between ages of 15 and 45 years old were included. Definite diagnosis was made by using brain CT scan or MRI and if needed, cerebral angiogram, lumbar puncture and Magnetic Resonance Venogram to certificate stroke subtypes. Further studies such as echocardiography and laboratory tests were performed to labeled vasculitis and coagulopathy disorders. Ischemic strokes were classified according to TOAST criteria. Results: 49 (52.7%) men and 44 (47.3%) women were enrolled in our study (P < 0.05). Sex deviation in stroke subtypes was significantly different (P = 0.003). Stroke subtypes were: Ischemic arterial stroke (41, 44.2%), subarachnoid hemorrhage (22, 23.6%), Cerebral venous and sinus thrombosis (ischemic venous stroke) (19, 20.4%) and Intracerebral hemorrhage (11, 11.8%). Ischemic arterial stroke subtypes were: cardioembolism (14, 34.14%), large artery atherosclerosis (9, 14.63% of ischemic infarcts), small vessel disease (3, 7.3%), ill-defined diagnosis (8, 19.51%) and other determined etiologies including 2 cases of vasculitis, 1 of hyper coagulate state and 4 with drug abuse (7, 17.07%). Conclusion: As opposed to the studies done in western countries, subarachnoid hemorrhage and Intracerebral hemorrhage occurred dramatically more in young Iranian adults. This study also suggests that among ischemic stroke subtypes, venous form is more rampant in Middle East compared to western countries.