Vascular cerebral thrombosis during pregnancy and post-partum.

Pregnancy and puerperium are associated with a number of cerebrovascular co nditions that may result in stroke. Those include cerebral venous thrombosi s and cerebral arteries occlusions. Comparing stroke rates during pregnancy with those of non-pregnant women showed only a marginal excess risk during pregnancy and puerperium. Strokes due to cerebral venous thrombosis represent 10-20 per 100 000 deliv eries in western countries. The cause of intracranial venous thrombosis is usually unknown. However better understanding of abnormalities in coagulati on leading to intravascular clotting in the early puerperium is resulting i n better understanding of this disease. Nevertheless, an etiological work r ip should be performed, particularly when the thrombosis occurs during preg nancy. Its clinical manifestations often include focal neurological signs, seizures and headache. Alterations in consciousness occur as intracranial p ressure increases. Arterial occlusions account for about 60 % to 80 % of cerebral ischemic les ions. A probable cause of ischemic stroke is diagnosed on the basis of clin ical, biological and radiological data. Eclampsia is the main cause of nonh emorrhagic stroke. A search for rare causes of stroke linked to pregnancy s uch as post-partum cardiomyopathy, paradoxical embolism, choriocarcinoma, c ardiac and hematological disorders may be appropriate.