Stroke (Causes)

Question 1

How long must symptoms last to be classed as a stroke?

Answer 1

More than 24 hours (or have lead to death)

Question 2

What is a condition, more common in older people, which makes a haemorrhagic stroke (and also ischaemic) more likely?

Answer 2

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy

Question 3

What are some causes of ischaemic stroke?

Answer 3

Cardioembolic, atheroembolic or small vessel disease

Question 4

What are the two main types of stroke and how common are each?

Answer 4

Ischaemic (80%), haemorrhagic (20%)

Question 5

Which blood vessels are usually always affected in stroke?

Answer 5

Arteries

Question 6

What are the two main types of haemorrhagic stroke and how common are each?

Answer 6

Intracerebral (75%), subarachnoid (25%)

Question 7

What condition increases the risk of an ischaemic stroke by 5 times?

Answer 7

AF

Question 8

Ischaemic strokes leading to infarction are caused by the near complete occlusion of a vessel. What is the single biggest cause of this?

Answer 8

Atherosclerosis

Question 9

Ischaemic strokes leading to infarction are caused by the near complete occlusion of a vessel. What are some conditions which can increase the risk of this?

Answer 9

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy and other small vessel disease, inflammatory/immunological conditions affecting the vessels, AF, patent foramen ovale

Question 10

What are the two main causes of primary intracerebral haemorrhage?

Answer 10

Hypertension and cerebral amyloid angiopathy

Question 11

What are the main causes of secondary intracerebral haemorrhage?

Answer 11

Arteriovenous malformations, aneurysms and tumours

Question 12

Intracerebral haemorrhage where in the brain is more likely to have cerebral amyloid angiopathy as its cause?

Answer 12

Lobar

Question 13

Intracerebral haemorrhage where in the brain is more likely to have hypertension as its cause?

Answer 13

Deep

Question 14

The commonest cause of ischaemic stroke is atherosclerosis. What are some things which increase the risk of this?

Answer 14

Ageing, smoking, hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol

Question 15

Atherosclerosis can cause a stroke in two ways. What are these?

Answer 15

The plaque can become unstable and rupture which leads to thrombus formation (occluding the artery) or a fragment (embolus) can break off and travel to occlude a vessel downstream

Question 16

As well as in the cerebral vessels (atheroembolic), acute clots can also form where to cause an ischaemic stroke? What is this known as?

Answer 16

In the heart (cardioembolic)

Question 17

What are some factors which may increase the risk of a cardioembolic ischaemic stroke?

Answer 17

Arrhythmias, valvular disease, congenital malformations or following an MI

Question 18

Very rarely, unusual substances can embolise to the brain and cause an ischaemic stroke. What are some examples of these?

Answer 18

Fat, air, tumour or infective material

Question 19

If a haemorrhagic stroke ruptures into the ventricular system, what can this cause?

Answer 19

Hydrocephalus