title: The relatively good outcome of cerebellum-brainstem ischemic strokes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Our clinical experience suggests that the outcome of cerebellum-brainstem ischemic strokes is better than that of hemispheric ischemic strokes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Within the setting of 2 national Israeli prospective stroke surveys, we analyzed risk factors, etiology, severity at presentation, and prognosis of first ischemic cerebellum-brainstem stroke (259 patients), comparing with strokes within the anterior circulation (1,029 patients).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patients with cerebellum-brainstem strokes were younger and had less frequently atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure. Cardioembolic etiology was significantly less prevalent (p < 0.001). Severity at presentation was milder (p < 0.001). At discharge, worsening of the modified Rankin Scale was present in a smaller number of patients (p < 0.001); more returned to their home (p < 0.001). Six-month and 1-year mortality were lower (p < 0.001 for both). Adjusted logistic regression models showed that patients with cerebellum-brainstem strokes had 50% smaller chances of dying (OR 0.55; 95% CI 0.31-0.98) and a smaller chance of worsening of the modified Rankin Scale at discharge (OR 0.61; 95% CI 0.46-0.82).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cerebellum-brainstem strokes are less frequently cardioembolic, have a less severe presentation, and carry a better immediate and long-term prognosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel. ikl @ cc.huji.ac.il
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Korn-Lubetzki
authors.forename: Noa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Molshatzki
authors.forename: Michal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Benderly
authors.forename: Israel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Steiner
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000473:pathology*; D002531:Cerebellum / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020521:Stroke / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology