Embolic strokes of undetermined source in young adults: baseline characteristics and long-term outcome

作者：Martinez Majander N^*; Aarnio K; Pirinen J; Lumikari T; Nieminen T; Lehto M; Sinisalo J; Kaste M; Tatlisumak T; Putaala J

来源：European Journal of Neurology, 2018, 25(3): 535-541.

DOI：10.1111/ene.13540

• brain infarction
• embolic stroke of undetermined source
• middle-aged
• outcome
• risk factors
• stroke
• young adult

Background and purposeEmbolic strokes of undetermined source (ESUS) are a recent entity, not yet thoroughly investigated in young stroke patients. The clinical characteristics and long-term risks of vascular events and all-cause mortality between young-onset ESUS and other aetiological subgroups were compared.
MethodsPatients with ESUS were identified amongst the 1008 patients aged 15-49 years with first-ever ischaemic stroke in Helsinki Young Stroke Registry, and primary end-points were defined as recurrent stroke, composite vascular events and all-cause mortality. Cumulative 15-year risks for each end-point were analysed with life tables and adjusted risks were based on Cox proportional hazard analyses.
ResultsOf the 971 eligible patients, 203 (20.9%) were classified as ESUS. They were younger (median age 40 years, interquartile range 32-46 vs. 45 years, 39-47), more often female (43.3% vs. 35.7%) and had fewer cardiovascular risk factors than other modified TOAST groups. With a median follow-up time of 10.1 years, ESUS patients had the second lowest cumulative risk of recurrent stroke and composite vascular events and lowest mortality compared to other TOAST groups. Large-artery atherosclerosis and small vessel disease carried significantly higher risk for recurrent stroke than did ESUS, whilst no difference appeared between cardioembolism from high-risk sources and ESUS.
ConclusionsIn our cohort, ESUS patients were younger and had milder cardiovascular risk factor burden and generally better long-term outcome compared to other causes of young-onset stroke. The comparable risk of recurrent stroke between ESUS and high-risk sources of cardioembolism might suggest similarities in their pathophysiology.

• 出版日期2018-3