Clinical Outcome of IV Thrombolysis in Lacunar Stroke

Abstract

acunar infarcts are small subcortical infarcts mainly located in the basal ganglia, internal capsule, thalamus, corona radiata and brainstem. About 25% of all ischemic strokes are lacunar in type. These small lesions (<cm in 2 diameter, <cm in some definitions) affect the white matter and deep gray 1.5 matter of the cerebral hemispheres and brainstem and are associated with several discrete neurological syndromes. Lacunar infarcts are considered to be caused by progressive lipohyalinosis and atherosclerosis of deep penetrating arteries contrast with cardioembolic or large-artery atherosclerotic stroke, where embolized thrombus material is abruptly occluding a cerebral vessel.