title: Cerebrovascular complications during pregnancy and postpartum: clinical and prognosis observations in 240 Hispanic women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although pregnancy and postpartum have long been associated with stroke, there is a dearth of information in Latino-American populations. The aim of this study was to describe the cerebrovascular complications occurring during pregnancy/postpartum and compare the characteristics amongst stroke types occurring in this period in Hispanic women.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 240 women with cerebrovascular complications during pregnancy and the first 5 weeks postpartum, from our stroke registry. Patients were classified into three groups: cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT), ischaemic stroke (IS), and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). For each group, clinical data, timing of the event, and outcome were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 240 women, 136 had CVT (56.7%), 64 IS (26.7%), and 40 ICH (16.6%). In 72 women (30%), the event occurred during pregnancy, in 153 (64%) during postpartum, and in 15 (6%) closely related to labor. CVT was more common in the first trimester of pregnancy and in the second and third weeks following delivery; whilst IS and ICH were seen mainly during pregnancy and the first 2 weeks following delivery. Pre-eclampsia/eclampsia was more common in patients with ICH (57.5%) and IS (36%) than in those with CVT (9.6%) (P < 0.001). An excellent recovery (modified Rankin Scale: 0-1) was observed amongst women with CVT (64%) and IS (50%) compared to ICH (32%), (P = 0.004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pre-eclampsia/eclampsia is a frequent risk factor in patients with ICH and IS, but not in CVT. Stroke types clustered different within the pregnancy-postpartum period. A good prognosis is observed in patients with CVT.
authors.affiliation: Stroke Clinic, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico. carloscantu_brito@hotmail.com
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cantu-Brito
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arauz
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Aburto
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barinagarrementeria
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Sandoval
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Baizabal-Carvallo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D015897:Comorbidity / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D011379:Prognosis; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D012042:Registries; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology; D055815:Young Adult