Pathology of lacunar ischemic stroke in humans - a systematic review

Bailey, E. L. , Smith, C., Sudlow, C. L. M. and Wardlaw, J. M. (2012) Pathology of lacunar ischemic stroke in humans - a systematic review. Brain Pathology, 22(5), pp. 583-91. (doi: 10.1111/j.1750-3639.2012.00575.x) (PMID:22329603)

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Abstract

Twenty-five percent of ischemic strokes are lacunar in type, but the cause remains unclear. Pathological descriptions of lacunar lesions are available but have not been systematically assessed. We therefore systematically summarized studies describing lacunar lesions by extracting data on the number of patients and lesions, clinical details, pathological methods, brain regions and/or vessels examined, and both parenchymal and vascular findings. Among 39 papers describing >4000 lesions (>50% from one study), 15 papers examined patients with a clinical lacunar syndrome. Terminology varied, many studies only reported macroscopic pathology and many lesions were cavitated (ie, old). Aside from symptomatic lesions occurring more often in the internal capsule or caudate nucleus, we found no other differences between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Perivascular edema and thickening, inflammation and disintegration of the arteriolar wall were common, whereas vessel occlusion was rare. The causal mechanisms of lacunar stroke remain poorly defined because of methodological inconsistencies and challenges. Standardised pathological definitions based on well-characterized post-mortem derived material supported by detailed clinical and imaging data are needed.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Bailey, Dr Emma
Authors: Bailey, E. L., Smith, C., Sudlow, C. L. M., and Wardlaw, J. M.
Subjects:R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
R Medicine > RB Pathology
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Life Sciences
Journal Name:Brain Pathology
Publisher:Wiley
ISSN:1015-6305
ISSN (Online):1750-3639
Published Online:13 February 2012

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