Introduction Stroke is the second leading cause of mortality and most common cause of disability worldwide. About 30% of stroke survivors are permanently disabled, and 20% require institutionalized care. In 2002, the cost of stroke was estimated at $49.4 billion…
There is an increasing emphasis on gender-specific issues in stroke, such as the role of endogenous and exogenous female hormones. This chapter reviews available data on the risk of stroke related to pregnancy, hormonal contraception, and postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy…
Introduction Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a powerful risk factor for stroke. Individuals with SCD are at risk for hemolytic anemia, painful vaso-occlusive crises, infection, and cerebrovascular disorders. Those with sickle cell anemia (SCA), defined as homozygous hemoglobin S or…
Introduction Platelets are small anucleated discoid-shaped blood cells 2–3 μm in diameter, which are essential for regulating hemostasis. They are produced in the bone marrow by megakaryocytes, circulating in the blood stream for 5–10 days before being destroyed by phagocytosis…
Introduction The antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is defined as a constellation of clinical and laboratory features including thrombosis and/or obstetrical complications associated with the presence of the following antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL): anticardiolipin antibody (aCL), anti-β2-glycoprotein 1 antibody (a-β2-GP1) or the lupus…
Introduction In ischemic stroke coagulopathies are characterized by a condition in which blood is too quick to clot. Such coagulation abnormalities may be genetic or acquired. Coagulation abnormalities are identified as the cause of ischemic stroke in less than 1%…
Introduction Aortic dissection occurs in about 3–4 per 100,000 persons per year. A common clinical error is to equate aortic dissection with aneurysm. This misconception unfortunately has been propagated since the earliest descriptions of these diseases, describing a “Dissecting Aneurysm…
Acknowledgments We acknowledge Dr. David Liebeskind for assistance with the angiographic images of radiation vasculopathy. Introduction Radiation-induced arterial damage was described shortly after the advent of the X-ray by Roentgen in the late 1800s . In the setting of radiation…
As cancer and stroke are the second and fifth leading causes of mortality in the United States, it is not surprising to encounter a patient with these concomitant diagnoses . Various cerebrovascular disorders can occur within the oncological population, complicating…
Introduction Migraine headache is both a prevalent and potentially debilitating condition attributed to both environmental and hereditary factors. It is associated with significant comorbidities including depression, dysautonomia, cognitive dysfunction, vertigo, and stroke. Migraine accounts for approximately one-third of neurologic disease…