TY - JOUR TI - Etiology of first-ever ischaemic stroke in European young adults: the 15 cities young stroke study AU - Barlas, N. Yesilot AU - Putaala, J. AU - Waje-Andreassen, U. and AU - Vassilopoulou, S. AU - Nardi, K. AU - Odier, C. AU - Hofgart, G. and AU - Engelter, S. AU - Burow, A. AU - Mihalka, L. AU - Kloss, M. AU - Ferrari, J. AU - and Lemmens, R. AU - Coban, O. AU - Haapaniemi, E. AU - Maaijwee, N. and AU - Rutten-Jacobs, L. AU - Bersano, A. AU - Cereda, C. AU - Baron, P. and AU - Borellini, L. AU - Valcarenghi, C. AU - Thomassen, L. AU - Grau, A. J. and AU - Palm, F. AU - Urbanek, C. AU - Tuncay, R. AU - Durukan Tolvanen, A. AU - van AU - Dijk, E. J. AU - de Leeuw, F. -E. AU - Thijs, V. AU - Greisenegger, S. and AU - Vemmos, K. AU - Lichy, C. AU - Bereczki, D. AU - Csiba, L. AU - Michel, P. AU - and Leys, D. AU - Spengos, K. AU - Naess, H. AU - Tatlisumak, T. AU - Bahar, AU - S. Z. JO - European Journal of Paediatric Neurology PY - 2013 VL - 20 TODO - 11 SP - 1431-1439 PB - Wiley SN - 1090-3798 TODO - 10.1111/ene.12228 TODO - cerebral infarct; etiology; ischaemic stroke (IS); stroke in young adults TODO - Background and purposeRisk factors for IS in young adults differ between genders and evolve with age, but data on the age- and gender-specific differences by stroke etiology are scare. These features were compared based on individual patient data from 15 European stroke centers. MethodsStroke etiology was reported in detail for 3331 patients aged 15-49years with first-ever IS according to Trial of Org in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST) criteria: large-artery atherosclerosis (LAA), cardioembolism (CE), small-vessel occlusion (SVO), other determined etiology, or undetermined etiology. CE was categorized into low- and high-risk sources. Other determined group was divided into dissection and other non-dissection causes. Comparisons were done using logistic regression, adjusting for age, gender, and center heterogeneity. ResultsEtiology remained undetermined in 39.6%. Other determined etiology was found in 21.6%, CE in 17.3%, SVO in 12.2%, and LAA in 9.3%. Other determined etiology was more common in females and younger patients, with cervical artery dissection being the single most common etiology (12.8%). CE was more common in younger patients. Within CE, the most frequent high-risk sources were atrial fibrillation/flutter (15.1%) and cardiomyopathy (11.5%). LAA, high-risk sources of CE, and SVO were more common in males. LAA and SVO showed an increasing frequency with age. No significant etiologic distribution differences were found amongst southern, central, or northern Europe. ConclusionsThe etiology of IS in young adults has clear gender-specific patterns that change with age. A notable portion of these patients remains without an evident stroke mechanism according to TOAST criteria. Click here for the corresponding questions to this CME article. ER -