ABSTRACT
Introduction : Cerebral infarction in the young adult is uncommon. However, this condition is important. Because stroke in the young adult could be prevented and treatment if there is a definite cause. These patients are let to have nearest normal life style. This can be achieved by find out and modification risk factors. Certainly, modification of risk factor is benefit for treatment and prevention of recurrence.Objective : To study risk factors, clinical signs and prognosis of cerebral infarction in the young patientsPopulation: Fourty-six patients with cerebral infarction of age between 15 to 45 years old, who was treated in Medical department, Srinagarind Hopsiptal, during August 1996 to December 1998.Methodology : Descriptive studyResult : There are 46 patients, 23 were male and 23 were female. The common underlying diseases were DM, HT and valvular heart diseases (VHD). There were smoker 17.39 percents, mean of pack-year was 2.66. On physical examination, 8 patients had HT, 11 patients had VHD and 5 patients had artial fibrillation (AF). All of the patients had done CT or MRI brain and tranesophageal echocardiogram (TEE), 37 patients had abnormal brain imaging finding. The most abnormal area was basal ganglia (11 of 37). Twenty-two patients had abnormal TEE findings, 3 patients had LA clot, 9 patients had mitral value stenosis (MS), 7 patients had patent foramen ovale (PFO), 5 patients had other VHD and 1 patient had cardiomyopathy. Causes of cerebral Infarction were atheroscierosis 14/46 (30.43%), cardiogenic cerebral embolism 12/46 (6.1%) and unknown cause 20/46 (43.48%). Risk factors were DM, HT, smoking and dyslipidemia. The most complications were urinary tract infection. Two patients (4.3%) had recurrent stroke in 2 weeks, 1 patients within 2 year Duration of follow up more than 1 year was 54.3% (14 to 48 months, mean was 46 months). There was no any death during the follow up time.Conclusion : The most common causes of stroke in the young adults was unknown cause, atherosclerosis and cardiogenie cerebral emboli respectively. Risk factors for atherosclerotic were DM, HT, smoking and dysispidemia. Rheumatic MS was the most common cause of cardiogenic cerebral embolism. There is no relation between PFO and stroke in the young.