Uncommon Cause of Stroke: Diagnosis and Treatment (Part II)

This chapter contains detailed, up-to-date information about the nature, diagnosis, and treatment of those relatively uncommon types of cerebrovascular disease that cause strokes. Although many of the conditions discussed are rare, the chapter covers the causes of up to 10% to 15% of all strokes and of up to 40% of strokes in young adults. This chapter may be an essential resource to help physicians diagnose and treat stroke patients who do not fit well into the usual clinical categories.

Discussed in this chapter are the various form of inherited small vessel disease such as CADASIL but even the less known Col 4A1/2 related syndromes, CARASIL, TREX1- gene mutations disorders and the cerebroretinal microangiopathy with calcifications and cysts. Three form of metabolic disorders causing stroke such as Fabry disease, Homocystinuria and MELAS as well as the most relevant form of hematological disorders (antifospholipid syndrome and sickle cell disease) are discussed. Finally intriguing disorders such as migrainous infarction and drugs related stroke disorders are detailed as well as some other rare disease such as Kohlmeier–Degos disease and acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epiteliopathy.

Keywords: Antifospholipid syndrome, Cerebral infarction, Cerebral small vessel diseases, Drugs, Genetic disorder, Metabolic disorders, Sickle cell disease, Stroke.