Risk factors for lacunar stroke: A case-control transesophageal echocardiographic study

To reassess the independent risk factors for lacunar stroke and to clarify the role of potential embolic sources, we conducted a case-control study us ing transesophageal echocardiography and duplex ultrasonography. Among 62 c onsecutive patients with their first lacunar stroke and 202 normal controls , we found that hypertension (p < 0.001), smoking (p = 0.001), and aortic a rch atheroma (p = 0.006) were independently associated with an increased ri sk of lacunar stroke. Whether proximal aortic arch atheroma is mechanistica lly associated with lacunar stroke or merely coexistent is uncertain.