title: Ischemic stroke in young Asian women: risk factors, subtypes and outcome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of our study was to describe risk factors, mechanisms and outcome of young Asian women with ischemic stroke.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve tertiary-care centers in 8 Asian countries participated. Women aged 15-45 years were included if they had an ischemic stroke supported by neuroimaging. Data on age, risk factor history, stroke mechanism and discharge status were collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 958 subjects were included, their mean age was 34 years. Large-vessel thrombosis comprised 24%, cerebral venous thrombosis 21%, cardioembolism 19% and small-vessel thrombosis 15%. The stroke risk factors included hypertension (29%), diabetes (14%), pregnancy (11%), valvular heart disease (10%) and cigarette smoking (3%). Anemia was found in 42%, and mortality was 4%; at discharge, 17% had modified Rankin score (mRS) >4 and 83% mRS 0-3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Unlike among Caucasians, large-vessel thrombosis, cerebral venous thrombosis and cardioembolism are common among young Asian women with stroke. A high proportion are pregnancy-related. More studies are needed.
authors: Department of Medicine/Neurology, Aga Khan University, Stadium Road , Karachi, Pakistan. mohammad.wasay@aku.edu
authors: Mohammad
authors: M
authors: Wasay
authors: Subhash
authors: S
authors: Kaul
authors: Bindu
authors: B
authors: Menon
authors: Narayanaswamy
authors: N
authors: Venketasubramanian
authors: Padma
authors: P
authors: Gunaratne
authors: Ahmed
authors: A
authors: Khalifa
authors: Niphon
authors: N
authors: Poungvarin
authors: Mohammad
authors: M
authors: Saadatnia
authors: Robert Ngo
authors: RN
authors: Gan
authors: Alper
authors: A
authors: Dai
authors: M M
authors: MM
authors: Mehndiratta
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001208:Asia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006349:Heart Valve Diseases / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D020766:Intracranial Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology*; D020767:Intracranial Thrombosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology*; D055815:Young Adult