Cerebrovascular disorders in childhood: etiology, clinical presentation, and neuroimaging findings in a case series study.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the main etiologies, neurological manifestations and neuro-imaging findings among children with sequelae of cerebrovascular disorders.


METHODS
Case series study of children whose diagnosis was stroke sequelae. Variables studied were age at the time of first episode, number of episodes, etiology, motor deficits, epilepsy, and effected vascular territory.


RESULTS
Twenty three patients were studied. Average age at first episode was 6.91 (+/-2.08) years. Fourteen patients were female. The number of stroke events per patient ranged from one to five. The most frequent etiologies were heart disease and sickle cell anemia. The most frequent neurological deficit was right hemiparesis. Nine patients experienced seizures. The left middle cerebral artery was the most affected vascular area.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings are similar to those described in the literature. Despite a careful investigation, some causes of stroke remain unidentified.
Matta
André P C
AP
The Sarah Network of Hospitals for Rehabilitation-Sarah-Rio Pediatric Rehabilitation Center, and Neurologic program, Fluminense Federal University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. andrepcmatta@sarah.br
Galvão
Keila R F
KR
Oliveira
Betânia S
BS
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D017585:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial