Cryptogenic Stroke: Anatomy of the Stroke Work-Up

Mary P Amatangelo

doi:10.1016/j.cnc.2019.11.008

Cryptogenic Stroke: Anatomy of the Stroke Work-Up

Crit Care Nurs Clin North Am. 2020 Mar;32(1):37-50. doi: 10.1016/j.cnc.2019.11.008.

Author

Mary P Amatangelo¹

Affiliation

¹ Neurology, Stroke, Neurocritical Care, Brigham and Women's Hospital, 15 Francis Street, BB 335, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Electronic address: MAMATANGELO@BWH.HARVARD.EDU.

PMID: 32014160
DOI: 10.1016/j.cnc.2019.11.008

Abstract

Despite advances in understanding the cause of ischemic stroke, cryptogenic stroke remains a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for clinicians. Approximately 15% to 40% of all ischemic strokes have no identifiable cause. CS is a diagnosis of exclusion after completing the standard stroke work-up. Further investigation needs to be tailored individually according to results of the clinical evaluation so appropriate secondary prevention strategies can be applied.

Keywords: Cardiac monitoring; Cryptogenic stroke; Diagnostic testing; Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Etiology (ESUS); Hypercoagulable; Imaging; Ischemic stroke.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Atrial Fibrillation / complications*
Diagnosis, Differential*
Humans
Neurologic Examination*
Risk Factors
Stroke* / diagnosis
Stroke* / etiology