Dyslipidemia: A Cause of Stroke in Young Adults

Stroke is a “Rapidly developing clinical signs of focal or global disturbances of cerebral functions lasting for more than 24 hours”. 1 One of the most important causes of high morbidity and mortality all over the world is stroke. The diseases of cerebral blood vessels and their related infarcts and hemorrhages occur in the elderly as well as the young. The various abnormalities in lipid profile have been reported in young patients with stroke. Both hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia appear to be important risk factors for atherosclerosis. A total of 50 subjects were selected by non-probability convenient sampling method at the tertiary care center. Out of all patients fulfilling the inclusion criteria of the age-group of 15–45 years. Dyslipidemia was seen in 32% [90% CI (22.31–43.53%)] of patients. Cortical venous thrombosis in 9 (18%) [90% CI (10.78–28.50%)] patients all of them were women. All but one was in a postpartum state. There was a single case of antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. Ten percent [90% CI (4.95–19.15%)] and 4% [90% CI (1.33–11.39%)] of patients were found to have rheumatic heart disease and systemic lupus erythematosus, respectively. One of the ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes was undiagnosed [90% CI (0.5–8.8%)]. Dyslipidemia as in elevated LDL and decreased HDL was a common finding. Dyslipidemia was found as the most common etiology for stroke in the young. Diagnostic challenges are to be expected while evaluating these patients.