Introduction Infections are common complications in the acute phase after stroke affecting about one-third of all patients with stroke . The most frequent poststroke infections are urinary tract infections and stroke-associated pneumonia (SAP), the latter showing consistent association with poor…
Introduction There is an elevated risk of ischemic stroke in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected compared to HIV-uninfected individuals, independent of age and traditional vascular risk factors. In individuals with untreated HIV infection, the odds of an ischemic stroke are more…
Neurological complications may occur as sequelae of systemic infection, but can be a presenting feature with certain pathogens. An association exists between ischemic strokes and infection, with a number of proposed mechanisms by which vascular disease develops into central nervous…
Introduction The acronym CADASIL (Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy with Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy) is for an autosomal dominant inherited cerebral small-vessel disease responsible in adults for subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy . Mutations in NOTCH3 gene on chromosome 19 are responsible…
Introduction About one-quarter of patients admitted to specialist stroke units will be discharged with a diagnosis other than stroke; these patients are commonly referred to as stroke mimics . Functional neurological disorder (FND) is one of the commonest causes of…
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…