Ischaemic stroke in children with cardiopathy: An epidemiological study.
BACKGROUND
Ischaemic stroke is rare during childhood. Congenital and acquired heart diseases are one of the most important risk factors for arterial ischaemic stroke (AIS) in children.


METHODS
We conducted a retrospective study of all children with AIS and heart disease diagnosed between 2000 and 2014.


RESULTS
We included 74 children with heart disease who were eligible for inclusion. 60% were boys with a mean stroke age of 11 months. 20% of the patients died during the study period. 90% of the patients had a congenital heart disease, while cyanotic heart disease was identified in 60%. Hypoplastic left heart syndrome was the most frequent heart disease. In 70% of patients AIS was directly associated with heart surgery, catheterisation or ventricular assist devices. Most patients with AIS were in the hospital. Seizures and motor deficit were the most frequent symptoms. Most patient diagnoses were confirmed by brain CT. The AIS consisted of multiple infarcts in 33% of the cases, affected both hemispheres in 27%, and involved the anterior and posterior cerebral circulation in 10%.


CONCLUSIONS
Arterial ischaemic strokes were mainly associated with complex congenital heart diseases, and heart procedures and surgery (catheterisation). AIS presented when patients were in-hospital and most of the patients were diagnosed in the first 24hours.
Sección de Neuropediatría, Hospital Materno Infantil Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, España. Electronic address: vazquezlopezmaria@gmail.com.
M
M
Vázquez-López
Sección de Neuropediatría, Hospital Materno Infantil Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, España.
P
P
Castro-de Castro
Sección de Neuropediatría, Hospital Materno Infantil Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, España.
E
E
Barredo-Valderrama
Sección de Neuropediatría, Hospital Materno Infantil Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, España.
M C
MC
Miranda-Herrero
Sección de Cardiología Infantil, Hospital Materno Infantil Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, España.
N
N
Gil-Villanueva
Sección de Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Pediátricos, Hospital Materno Infantil Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, España.
A J
AJ
Alcaraz-Romero
Sección de Neuropediatría, Hospital Materno Infantil Gregorio Marañón, Madrid, España.
A
A
Jiménez-de Domingo
Sección de Neuropediatría, Hospital Infantil La Paz, Madrid, España.
S I
SI
Pascual-Pascual
D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D005260:Female; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology*
Arterial ischaemic disease; Cardiopatía congénita; Cateterismo; Catheterisation; Cirugía cardiaca; Congenital heart disease; Enfermedad cardiaca; Heart disease; Heart surgery; Hypoplastic left heart syndrome; Ictus isquémico; Ventrículo izquierdo hipoplásico