Clinical Analysis for Risk Factors of Lacunar Infarction Syndrome

Kim, Myeong Kyu; Chung, Xeul Ki; Cho, Ki Hyun; Kim, Sei Jong

Abstract

Lacunar infarction is an important stroke subgroup with unique clinical and pathologic features, but its relative risks for associated risk factors have been rarely documented. To address this matter, we studied 30 consecutive patients with first-ever stroke due to lacunar infarction and 30 age- and sex-matched patients with large infarction involving middle cerebral artery territory admitted to Chonnam University Hospital during the period March 1996 to December 1996. We obtained information concerning risk factor exposure status and estimated Odds ratio using SPSS/WIN package to evaluate the relative risk of lacunar infarction associated with the examined risk factors. The prevalence of hypertension and diabetes for the patients with lacunar infarction was higher than those with large infarction, but this result was statistically not significant. Heart disease was inversely associated with lacunar infarction. In summary, hypertension may be equally important for both lacunar and nonlacunar infarcts and cardiac embolism is an unlikely mechanism for lacunar infarction.