A study was performed to assess the natural history, prognostic factors, and lipid and apolipoprotein abnormalities of idiopathic ischemic childhood stroke. A case series of 42 children, retrospectively identified with idiopathic ischemic strokes, were reassessed an average of 7.4 years (range, 1 to 19 years) after presentation. Patients were interviewed and examined, and fasting serum was obtained for lipid and apolipoprotein analysis. Poor outcome was defined as moderate to severe hemiparesis, special educational needs, epilepsy, recurrent stroke, or stroke-related death. Eighteen (43%) of the patients had a poor outcome. Among them were moderate to severe hemiparesis in 14 (78%), recurrent strokes in seven (39%), and one death. Poor outcome was evident early in their clinical course. Independent of outcome, lipid abnormalities including an elevated triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and a depressed high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were seen in one third of all patients. A depressed ratio of apolipoprotein A-1 to apolipoprotein B (using adult normative values) was seen in half of the entire cohort. Clinical features of children with unexplained ischemic strokes at presentation and their subsequent course are described. Significant risk factors for a poor outcome include (1) persistence of hemiparesis 1 month after the stroke, (2) cortical as opposed to subcortical location, and (3) bilateral occlusive disease with telangiectasia on cerebral angiography. Previously described risk factors for an unfavorable prognosis, including occurrence during infancy and presentation with seizures, were not substantiated. Lipid abnormalities occur at an increased frequency in children after unexplained ischemic strokes. Prospective assessment of lipoprotein profiles are needed to further assess clinical significance. Assessing apolipoproteins may provide further insight than lipid values alone. (J Child Neurol 1996;11:276-282).
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