Risk factors for lacunar stroke: A case-control transesophageal echocardiographic study

Kazui, S. MD, PhD
Levi, C. R. FRACP
Jones, E. F. MBBS, PhD
Quang, L. Grad.Dip.Sci.
Calafiore, P. MBBS
Donnan, G. A. MD, FRACP

From the National Stroke Research Institute (Drs. Kazui, Levi, Quang, and Donnan) and Department of Cardiology (Drs. Jones and Calafiore), Austin & Repatriation Medical Centre, Australia.

Received June 14, 1999.

Accepted in final form December 3, 1999.

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Professor Geoffrey A. Donnan, National Stroke Research Institute, Level 1, Boronia Centre, Repatriation Campus, Austin & Repatriation Medical Centre, Banksia Street, Heidelberg West, Victoria 3081, Australia; e-mail: [email protected]

Neurology 54(6):p 1385-1387, March 28, 2000.

Article abstract

To reassess the independent risk factors for lacunar stroke and to clarify the role of potential embolic sources, we conducted a case-control study using transesophageal echocardiography and duplex ultrasonography. Among 62 consecutive patients with their first lacunar stroke and 202 normal controls, we found that hypertension (p < 0.001), smoking (p = 0.001), and aortic arch atheroma (p = 0.006) were independently associated with an increased risk of lacunar stroke. Whether proximal aortic arch atheroma is mechanistically associated with lacunar stroke or merely coexistent is uncertain.