This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by FOGELHOLM, R. Articles by AHO, K. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by FOGELHOLM, R. Articles by AHO, K.

(Stroke. 1975;6:328.)
© 1975 American Heart Association, Inc.

---

Characteristics and Survival of Patients With Brain Stem Infarction

RAINER FOGELHOLM M.D.¹ KARI AHO M.D.¹

¹ Department of Neurology, University of Helsinki Haartmaninkatu 4, 00290 Helsinki 29, Finland

A retrospective study of 141 patients with ischemic brain stem infarction admitted to the Department of Neurology, University of Helsinki, during 1966 to 1973 was performed. The patients were contacted by mail in January and February, 1974; in case of death, the death certificates were procured. The follow-up period was from 4 to 99 months (median 46.5 months), during which a total of 39 patients had died. A life table analysis gave a 50% probability of a seven-year survival after the stroke. Survival was similar for men and women, and age appeared to have little influence on the prognosis with only a slightly higher case fatality in old age. Soft palate paralysis, disturbed sensorium, need of special treatment measures (feeding by gastric tube, intravenous infusions, etc.) during the acute phase, abnormalities in the ECG (T-wave negativity, S-T segment depression), fasting blood glucose 100 mg/100 ml or higher, and an abnormal EEG (slowing down of alpha rhythm alone or in association with paroxysmal and/or focal disturbances) were all associated with high case fatality. Preceding TIAs, blood pressure level, serum cholesterol and triglyceride values, and aortic arch angiogram findings, on the other hand, had no effect upon the prognosis. The effects of body build on prognosis remained obscure.

Key Words: aortic arch angiogram • blood glucose • blood pressure • serum triglycerides • body build • cigarette smoking • electrocardiogram • electroencephalography • TIA • serum cholesterol

This article has been cited by other articles:

				M. Willmot, J. Leonardi-Bee, and P. M.W. Bath High Blood Pressure in Acute Stroke and Subsequent Outcome: A Systematic Review Hypertension, January 1, 2004; 43(1): 18 - 24. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				T. A. Glass, P. M. Hennessey, L. Pazdera, H.-M. Chang, R. J. Wityk, L. D. Dewitt, M. S. Pessin, and L. R. Caplan Outcome at 30 Days in the New England Medical Center Posterior Circulation Registry Arch Neurol, March 1, 2002; 59(3): 369 - 376. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G.G. Nenci, P. Gresele, M. Taramelli, G. Agnelli, and E. Signorini Thrombolytic Therapy for Thromboembolism of Vertebrobasilar Artery Angiology, September 1, 1983; 34(9): 561 - 571. [Abstract] [PDF]