Cerebrovascular disease, Stroke and Stroke like illness

Lead investigator

Dr F Kirkham

About the study

Cerebrovascular disorders in childhood were associated with significant mortality and considerable residual handicap, both physical and cognitive. At the time of this study, in the United Kingdom, the actual number of children affected annually by stroke remained unknown.

This 13-month study was a prospective observational study of one year’s cases with independent surveying of British neurosurgeons, cardiac surgeons, cardiologists, paediatric radiologists and haematologists/oncologists.

The aetiology of stroke and cerebrovascular disease in childhood remained a puzzle in a significant proportion of cases. Even where there appeared to be an association, causation may have remained unproven.

Management strategies were developed for certain conditions, but there was no overall policy. The most important questions that doctors faced were how far to investigate children with cerebrovascular disease or stroke, whether to refer and whether to treat. This surveillance study also looked at practices at the time.

Objectives

• To estimate the incidence of stroke, stroke-like illness and cerebrovascular disease in all children between birth (at >37 weeks of gestation) and 16 years.
• To determine the national and regional patterns of presentation and of neurological referral.
• To assess the aetiology considered at the time of diagnosis in incident cases, and to describe practices regarding management, investigation and prevention of recurrence.

Duration

January 2001 – January 2002

Published papers

BPSU 17th Annual report 2002 – 2003

Support Group

Stroke Association
Web: https://www.stroke.org.uk Email: info@stroke.org.uk