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stroke syndrome
a symptom complex caused by a disorder of the blood vessels serving the brain, with impaired blood supply and ischemia. Symptoms depend on the brain area affected, and may include paralysis either on one entire side of the body or of a less
complete area, vertigo, numbness, and aphasia. There are four different events related to this condition: transient ischemic attack, reversible ischemic neurologic deficit, stroke in evolution, and completed stroke. Persons most at risk for stroke include those with hypertension, atherosclerosis, heart disease, and other cardiovascular disorders. Obese persons, heavy smokers, and those with diabetes mellitus are also at increased risk. The three main causes of stroke syndrome, all associated with cerebral infarction (a necrotic area in the brain tissue), are cerebral embolism, cerebral thrombosis, and cerebral hemorrhage. Strokelike symptoms may also be caused by compression of cerebral vessels (such as by a tumor or edema) and by arterial
spasm. Called also stroke and cerebral vascular or cerebrovascular accident.
Copyright 2007. An Elsevier publication. All rights reserved.
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