aetiology of thrombotic stroke
Last reviewed 01/2018
Affecting major arteries:
- atherosclerosis
- dissecting aneurysm } more common in younger patients
- fibromuscular dysplasia }
Affecting small vessels:
- hypertension
- arteriosclerosis
- diabetes mellitus
Hypercoagulable states:
- congestive cardiac failure
- polycythaemia
- thrombocythaemia
- malignancy - myeloma, leukaemia
- sickle cell disease
- pregnancy, oral contraceptives
- antiphospholipid syndrome - up to 20% of strokes in 'young' patients have antiphospholipid syndrome (1)
Reference:
- (1) Hughes G. Why 'sticky blood' syndrome has implications beyond thrombosis. Pulse (28/7/01), 29-31.