Risk factors for arterial ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke in childhood

Pediatr Neurol. 2009 Apr;40(4):277-81. doi: 10.1016/j.pediatrneurol.2008.11.002.

Abstract

This study assessed potential etiologies of arterial ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke among children of Mainland China. From January 1996-June 2006, 251 patients with consecutive childhood stroke (aged 1 month through 16 years) were admitted to Beijing Children's Hospital. Arterial ischemic stroke accounted for the majority of cases (62.5%). Idiopathic stroke (32.5%) was more common than cardiac stroke (8.9%), vascular or arteriopathic stroke (21.0%), hematologic disorder-associated stroke (10.8%), and other etiologies (26.8%). Vitamin K deficiency was a major etiology in 72 of 94 hemorrhagic strokes (76.6%), most of which occurred in breastfeeding infants (80.6%) and those who received no vitamin K after birth (73.6%). Arteriovenous malformation (6.4%) was a frequent etiology in the remaining hemorrhagic stroke cases. We found that ischemic stroke in children is more common than hemorrhagic stroke, and many cases of ischemic stroke are idiopathic. Vitamin K deficiency was a major etiology in these young infants who experienced hemorrhagic stroke.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Brain Ischemia / complications*
  • Brain Ischemia / epidemiology*
  • Brain Ischemia / etiology
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / complications
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / epidemiology
  • Central Nervous System Vascular Malformations / complications
  • Central Nervous System Vascular Malformations / epidemiology
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage / complications*
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage / epidemiology*
  • Cerebral Hemorrhage / etiology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • China / epidemiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Stroke / epidemiology*
  • Stroke / etiology*
  • Vitamin K Deficiency / complications
  • Vitamin K Deficiency / epidemiology