Cerebral infarction in young women: Analysis of 130 cases

The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors and mechanism of ce rebral infarction in young women. Methods: We evaluated 130 consecutive wom en younger than 41 years of age with cerebral infarction and compared the r isk factors with a control group of 122 healthy, age-matched women. Results : The leading risk factors in patients with cerebral infarction were migrai ne (15%), tobacco use (15%), and oral contraceptive (OC) use (12%). Cerebra l arteriograms were abnormal in 59% of patients (57 of 96). The causes of c erebral infarction were cardiac embolism in 36%, nonatherosclerotic vasculo pathy in 25%, hematologic disorders in 8%, and migraine in 8%. The etiology could not be determined in 23% of patients. Conclusion: Migraine and OCs a re independent risk factors for cerebral infarction in young women. The lea ding etiologies were rheumatic valve disease and nonatherosclerotic vasculo pathy, hematologic disturbances, and migraine were responsible for a few ca ses.