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Neuropediatrics 1991; 22(4): 190-193
DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1071439
Original article

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Predictors of Survival and Characteristics of Childhood Stroke*

J. J. Higgins , Lisa A. Kammerman , Ch. R. Fitz
  • Departments of Neurology, Research and Radiology, Children's National Medical Center; Department of Pediatrics, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, D.C., USA
* This paper was presented in part at the Child Neurology Society Meeting in San Antonio, Texas, October 12-14, 1989.
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Publication History

Publication Date:
19 March 2008 (online)

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Abstract

To determine predictors of outcome we reviewed 226 medical records of patients admitted to Children's National Medical Center with the diagnosis of cerebrovascular disease from 1978 to 1988. Ninety-five cases of stroke were identified by either neuroimaging techniques (87), autopsy (7), or clinical examination (1). Causal factors implicated in 89 % of the patients included infectious (21 %), vascular (18 %), hematologic (15 %), cardiac (13 %) problems, minor trauma (8%) or miscellaneous (14%) causes. Patient outcome (n = 88) included residual impairment in 54 %, complete resolution of their initial deficit in 23 %, and death in 23 %.

Among patients with abnormal CT findings (n = 60), a logistic regression model revealed that patients with hemorrhage were at a significant risk (p = 0.0469) for death (odds ratio (OR) = 5.5, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.2-24.5); those with an altered level of consciousness (stupor or coma) on presentation were also at risk (p = 0.0166; OR = 6.94, CI 1.7-28.5). The sensitivity and specificity of this model were 57 % and 93 %, respectively. No other clinical, laboratory, or demographic variable analyzed was predictive of outcome.

Key words

Childhood stroke - Survival - Characteristics

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