Ischemic perinatal stroke: challenge and opportunities

Int J Stroke. 2008 Aug;3(3):169-72. doi: 10.1111/j.1747-4949.2008.00205.x.

Abstract

The second highest risk group for developing a cerebral stroke is the perinatal period, generally defined as 20 weeks of gestation through 28th postnatal day of age. In this commentary, a brief overview of ischemic perinatal strokes is presented. Ischemic perinatal stroke (IPS) occurs at a rate of 1 : 2300 to 1 : 5000 births, accounting for 30% of children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy (CP). Thus, IPS is the most common known cause for CP [1-3]. Although they occur frequently, much remains to be studied about perinatal strokes in general and the ischemic variety in particular.

MeSH terms

  • Brain Ischemia / complications*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Hemiplegia / complications
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Newborn, Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Risk Factors
  • Stroke / diagnosis
  • Stroke / epidemiology*
  • Stroke / etiology