Cerebral infarction in young women: analysis of 130 cases.
The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors and mechanism of cerebral infarction in young women.


METHODS
We evaluated 130 consecutive women younger than 41 years of age with cerebral infarction and compared the risk factors with a control group of 122 healthy, age-matched women.


RESULTS
The leading risk factors in patients with cerebral infarction were migraine (15%), tobacco use (15%), and oral contraceptive (OC) use (12%). Cerebral arteriograms were abnormal in 59% of patients (57 of 96). The causes of cerebral infarction were cardiac embolism in 36%, nonatherosclerotic vasculopathy in 25%, hematologic disorders in 8%, and migraine in 8%. The etiology could not be determined in 23% of patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Migraine and OCs are independent risk factors for cerebral infarction in young women. The leading etiologies were rheumatic valve disease and nonatherosclerotic vasculopathy, hematologic disturbances, and migraine were responsible for a few cases.
Barinagarrementeria
F
F
Stroke Clinic, Stroke Program, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía, Manuel Velasco Suárez, Tlalpan, Mexico City, Mexico. fbarinaga@compuserve.com
Gonzàlez-Duarte
A
A
Miranda
L
L
Cantú
C
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000150:complications; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects
D003276:Contraceptives, Oral