What is the cause of lacunar stroke?

What is the cause of lacunar stroke?

Lacunar stroke is caused by lack of blood flow in smaller arteries that supply deep brain structures. The most important risk factor for the development of lacunar stroke is chronic high blood pressure. The condition can cause the arteries to narrow.

What is the most common lacunar stroke syndrome?

There are over 20 lacunar syndromes that have been described, but the most common ones are pure motor hemiparesis, pure sensory stroke, ataxic hemiparesis, sensorimotor stroke, and dysarthria-clumsy hand syndrome.

What is the difference between a TIA and a lacunar infarct?

TIAs may last for a few minutes or up to 24 hours, and are often a warning sign that a stroke may occur. Although usually mild and transient, the symptoms caused by a TIA are similar to those caused by a stroke. Another type of stroke that occurs in the small blood vessels in the brain is called a lacunar infarct.

Can you have a lacunar stroke and not know it?

Although doctors do not know the precise cause of lacunar infarctions, they are still thought to be due to disease of the blood vessels. Unlike strokes, lacunar infarctions are often not noticed by patients, though subtle symptoms sometimes can be present (trouble with memory or thinking).

Where is the lacunar area of the brain?

Lacunar infarcts are small infarcts (2–20 mm in diameter) in the deep cerebral white matter, basal ganglia, or pons, presumed to result from the occlusion of a single small perforating artery supplying the subcortical areas of the brain.

Can you have a lacunar infarct and not know it?

Is lacunar infarct a mini stroke?

A quarter of all ischaemic strokes (a fifth of all strokes) are lacunar type. Lacunar infarcts are small infarcts (2–20 mm in diameter) in the deep cerebral white matter, basal ganglia, or pons, presumed to result from the occlusion of a single small perforating artery supplying the subcortical areas of the brain.

Is a lacunar infarct a silent stroke?

The risk of silent stroke increases with age but may also affect younger adults. Women appear to be at increased risk for silent stroke, with hypertension and current cigarette smoking being amongst the predisposing factors. These types of strokes include lacunar and other ischemic strokes and minor hemorrhages.

Where does lacunar stroke happen?

Strokes can damage brain tissue in the outer part of the brain (the cortex) or deeper structures in the brain underneath the cortex. A stroke in a deep area of the brain (for example, a stroke in the thalamus, the basal ganglia or pons) is called a lacunar stroke.

What part of the brain is lacunar?

A stroke in a deep area of the brain (for example, a stroke in the thalamus, the basal ganglia or pons) is called a lacunar stroke. These deeper structures receive their blood flow through a unique set of arteries.