Risk factors in lacunar syndromes: a case-control study

Acta Neurol Scand. 1988 Jan;77(1):22-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0404.1988.tb06968.x.

Abstract

The association between some hypothetical risk factors (previous TIA, hypertension, ECG ischemic abnormalities, diabetes, cigarette smoking, atrial fibrillation, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, high hematocrit) and lacunar syndromes has been evaluated by a matched sample case-control study involving 108 consecutive, incident cases with lacunar syndrome and 216 hospital control subjects, matched for sex and age. A significant increase of Relative Risk (RR) has been shown for: 1. Previous history of TIA; 2. Hypertension; 3. Smoking; 4. Diabetes. No relevance was shown for: 1. Atrial fibrillation; 2. Hypercholesterolemia; 3. Hypertriglyceridemia; 4. High hematocrit. The analysis of the triplets of subjects (1 case + 2 controls) without hypertension showed a significant RR increase for: 1. Previous history of TIA; 2. Ischemic cardiac abnormalities; 3. Atrial fibrillation. Such findings support the hypothesis that, in a minority of cases with lacunar syndrome, the pathogenetic mechanism could be different from occlusion of penetrating arteries in hypertensive patients.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Cerebral Infarction / etiology
  • Cerebral Infarction / physiopathology
  • Cerebrovascular Disorders / etiology*
  • Cerebrovascular Disorders / physiopathology
  • Diabetes Complications
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / complications
  • Ischemic Attack, Transient / complications
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Risk Factors
  • Smoking / adverse effects
  • Syndrome