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Risk factors for cryptogenic ischaemic stroke
Author(s) -
Karttunen V.,
Alfthan G.,
Hiltunen L.,
Rasi V.,
Kervinen K.,
Kesäniemi Y. A.,
Hillbom M.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
european journal of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.881
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1468-1331
pISSN - 1351-5101
DOI - 10.1046/j.1468-1331.2002.00464.x
Subject(s) - medicine , odds ratio , risk factor , stroke (engine) , homocysteine , clotting factor , lipoprotein(a) , myocardial infarction , cerebral infarction , logistic regression , cardiology , cholesterol , apolipoprotein b , ischemia , mechanical engineering , engineering
This case–control study was designed to identify risk factors for cryptogenic brain infarction. We assessed the frequency of prothrombotic states, homocysteine, lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] and other lipids and the apolipoprotein E phenotype together with conventional risk factors in 46 patients (19 women and 27 men) with cryptogenic brain infarction aged from 15 to 60 years and in 104 community‐based controls. Multivariate odds ratios (ORs) for risk factors and 95% CIs were calculated by logistic regression. Hypertension (OR 4.5; 95% CI, 1.5–13.2; P = 0.006), current smoking (OR 2.9; 95% CI, 1.2–6.8; P = 0.012), low HDL cholesterol (HDL‐C) (OR 5.4; 95% CI, 1.1–25.5; P = 0.035) and high clotting factor VIII activity (OR 3.6; 95% CI, 1.1–12.2; P = 0.041) were variables associated with cryptogenic brain infarction. These risk factors were not equally frequent in women and men. Low HDL‐C and high factor VIII activity in the women, and hypertension, current smoking and a low level of plasma folate in the men were risk factors for cryptogenic stroke. Several of the observed risk factors for cryptogenic brain infarction were lifestyle‐associated, which emphasizes the role of health education in addition to pharmacological treatment in the prevention of stroke.