Paediatric arterial ischaemic stroke and cerebral sinovenous thrombosis in Denmark 1994-2006: a nationwide population-based study.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the incidence rates (IR), clinical characteristics, risk factors, treatment and outcomes of paediatric arterial ischaemic stroke (AIS) and cerebral sinovenous thrombosis (CSVT).


METHODS
Using population-based, nationwide medical registries, we identified all patients aged 0-18 years at the time of hospitalization with first-ever AIS and/or CSVT in Denmark between 1994 and 2006. Medical records were retrieved and reviewed.


RESULTS
We identified 211 patients with AIS and 40 patients with CSVT corresponding to IRs of 1.33 (95% CI 1.16-1.52) and 0.25 (95% CI 0.19-0.34) per 100,000 person-years, respectively. The IRs peaked in infancy (<1 year) for both AIS and CSVT with an additional peak among adolescents (15-18 years) for CSVT. The IR of AIS increased 3.9% per year (p=0.036), whereas no changes were found for CSVT. In total, 48.2% of the patients received antithrombotic treatment; no major complications were observed. All-cause and thrombosis-related 30-day case fatality ratios were 3.6% and 2.4%, respectively; neurological sequelae were found in 56.2% of patients.


CONCLUSIONS
The IR of AIS was highest in infants and had increased with 3.9% annually during the observation period. The IR of CSVT had an additional peak in adolescence and remained unchanged over time.
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Centre of Cardiovascular Research, Aalborg Hospital, Aarhus University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark. rt@rn.dk
R
R
Tuckuviene
A L
AL
Christensen
J
J
Helgestad
S P
SP
Johnsen
S R
SR
Kristensen
D000293:Adolescent; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D012851:Sinus Thrombosis, Intracranial / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome