Stroke in myopathies.
OBJECTIVE
Only few data are available about the risk of myopathy patients experiencing a cerebral stroke.


OBJECTIVE
To review the current knowledge about the frequency, pathogenesis, and outcome of stroke in primary/secondary myopathies.


METHODS
Literature review of all human studies dealing with stroke in primary/secondary myopathies.


RESULTS
Stroke in myopathies may be either ischemic, metabolic, or cryptogenic. Ischemic stroke may be further classified as cardioembolic, angiopathic, hemodynamic, or thrombophilic. Cardioembolic stroke occurs if there is cardiac involvement in the form of atrial fibrillation/flutter, dilated cardiomyopathy, or non-compaction. Angiopathic stroke occurs if there is atherosclerosis (frequently associated with mitochondrial disorders (MIDs), vasculitis, or dissection in inflammatory myopathies) or MIDs. Thrombophilic stroke may occur in poly-/dermatomyositis if there is additional anti-phospholipid syndrome. Metabolic stroke usually manifests as stroke-like episode and is a distinct feature of various MIDs, particularly MELAS syndrome. The clinical manifestations are due to a vasogenic edema, showing up as hyperintensity on T(2), DWI, and apparent diffusion coefficient mapping. Differentiation between ischemic and metabolic stroke is essential in terms of diagnosis, therapy, and prognosis.


CONCLUSIONS
Ischemic stroke due to cardioembolism, arteriopathy, or thrombophilia are rare events in myopathies, but metabolic stroke is a frequent feature of MIDs, with distinct diagnostic and therapeutic implications.
Finsterer
Josef
J
Neurological Department, Krankenanstalt Rudolfstiftung, Vienna, Austria. fifigs1@yahoo.de
Stollberger
Claudia
C
D016736:Antiphospholipid Syndrome / Q000150:complications; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D004617:Embolism / Q000150:complications; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000150:complications; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D028361:Mitochondrial Diseases / Q000150:complications; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D019851:Thrombophilia / Q000150:complications