title: Protocol and methodology of the Stroke in Young Fabry Patients (sifap1) study: a prospective multicenter European study of 5,024 young stroke patients aged 18-55 years.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Stroke in the young has not been thoroughly investigated with most previous studies based on a small number of patients from single centers. Furthermore, recent reports indicate that Fabry disease may be a significant cause for young stroke. The primary aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of Fabry disease in young stroke patients, while the secondary aim was to describe patterns of stroke in young patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We initiated the Stroke in Young Fabry Patients (sifap1) study as a multinational prospective European study of stroke patients aged 18-55 years and collected a broad range of clinical, laboratory, and radiological data using stringent standardized methods. All patients were tested for Fabry disease and blood was stored for future genetic testing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We managed to enroll 5,024 eligible young stroke patients in 15 countries and 47 centers across Europe between April 2007 and January 2010. The median number of patients included per center was 98 with a range between 8 and 315. The average duration of patient recruitment per center was 22 months, ranging between 5 and 33 months. The database was closed in July 2010. This paper describes protocol and methodology of the sifap1 study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The sifap1 study included the largest series of young stroke patients so far and will allow for analyses on a large number of aspects of stroke in the young.
authors.affiliation: Albrecht Kossel Institute for Neuroregeneration, Medical Faculty, University of Rostock, Gehlsheimerstrasse 20, Rostock, Germany. arndt.rolfs@med.uni-rostock.de
authors.forename: Arndt
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rolfs
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Martus
authors.forename: Peter U
authors.initials: PU
authors.lastname: Heuschmann
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Grittner
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Holzhausen
authors.forename: Turgut
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tatlisumak
authors.forename: Tobias
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Böttcher
authors.forename: Franz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fazekas
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Enzinger
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ropele
authors.forename: Reinhold
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Olaf
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Riess
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Norrving
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D000795:Fabry Disease / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012107:Research Design; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D055815:Young Adult