Cerebral infarction in young women:: Analysis of 130 cases

The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors and mechanism of cerebral infarction in young women. Methods: We evaluated 130 consecutive women younger than 41 years of age with cerebral infarction and compared the risk factors with a control group of 122 healthy, age-matched women. Results: The leading risk factors in patients with cerebral infarction were migraine (15%), tobacco use (15%), and oral contraceptive (OC) use (12%). Cerebral arteriograms were abnormal in 59% of patients (57 of 96). The causes of cerebral infarction were cardiac embolism in 36%, nonatherosclerotic vasculopathy in 25%, hematologic disorders in 8%, and migraine in 8%. The etiology could not be determined in 23% of patients. Conclusion: Migraine and OCs are independent risk factors for cerebral infarction in young women. The leading etiologies were rheumatic valve disease and nonatherosclerotic vasculopathy, hematologic disturbances, and migraine were responsible for a few cases.