Types and risk factors of recurrent ischemic stroke after initial brainstem infarction

Abstract

To retrospectively analyze the clinical data of 176 patients of recurrent cerebral infarction at our hospital. Based upon the treatment of acute stroke trial (TOAST) classification, the types of recurrent ischemic stroke with initial brainstem infarction were classified. And univariate and multivariate logistic analyses of risk factors were performed. The major types in a decreasing order were atherosclerotic cerebral infarction (AT, n=24, 70.6%), small arterial occlusive stroke (SA, n=8, 23.5%) and cardiogenic cerebral embolism (CE, n=2, 5.9%). Brainstem infarction was more likely to be affected by poor life habits and a history of diabetes mellitus (DM). And atrial fibrillation was a major independent risk factor for non-brainstem infarction. Multivariate logistic analysis showed that poor living habits (P=0.03), a history of DM (P=0.004), vulnerable plaque (P=0.01) and poor compliance of secondary prevention medication (P=0.02) were independent risk factors for recurrent ischemic stroke with initial brainstem infarction. Health education should be strengthened for preventing recurrent ischemic stroke with brainstem infarction. Key words: Brain infaction, relapsing; Risk factors