Source: Blood  |  Posted 8 years ago

Causes of ischaemic stroke differ in children compared to adults, say researchers.

A paediatric classification system for ischaemic stroke would be useful, suggest the researchers from Guy's Hospital in London, England. They compared the aetiologies of ischaemic stroke subtypes in 36 children and 50 adults to determine similarities and differences.

All participants presented with stroke between 1995 and 2000. They were categorised using a modified version of the Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Therapy (TOAST) classification.

The paediatric group included 22 girls and 14 boys; median age was 5 years, 7 months, with a range of 6 weeks to 15 years, 10 months.

In the adult group, there were 35 men and 15 women, with a median age of 44 years. The range was 17 years, 2 months to 49 years, 11 months.

Among the adults, three subtypes accounted for a majority of strokes (27): large artery atherosclerosis, cardio-embolic and small vessel disease. Only three children had strokes in these three subtypes.

On the other hand, a majority of the children (29) were classified within the 'other determined aetiology subtype'.

Aetiology was undetermined in 12 of the 50 adults and in three of the 36 children.

"Causes of ischaemic stroke in children and adults are distinct," the researchers concluded.