Lacunar strokes
Written and reviewed by Dr Ibrahim Imam, Consultant Neurologist. Last reviewed .
Lacunar strokes. These are deep infarcts < 20mm in diameter. They result from occlusion of penetrating arteries. Fully referenced neurology checklist.
Characteristics
- These are deep infarcts < 20mm in diameter
- They result from occlusion of penetrating arteries
- They account for 25% of ischemic strokes
- They cause 25% of cortical syndromes
- They occur silently in a quarter of people >70 years
- They increase the risk of stroke and dementia
Risk factors: non-genetic
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Risk factors: genetic
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Clinical syndromes
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Typical presentation
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Features not associated with lacunar stroke
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Predictors of recurrence
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Investigations
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Treatment
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References
- Yaghi S, Raz E, Yang D, et al. Lacunar stroke: mechanisms and therapeutic implications. JNNP 2021 (Online ahead of print).
- Rajapakse A, Rajapakse S, Sharma JC. Is investigating for carotid artery disease warranted in non-cortical lacunar infarction? Stroke 2011; 42:217-220.
- Norrving B. Lacunar infarcts: no black holes in the brain are benign. Pract Neurol 2008; 8:222-228.
- Sacco S, Marini C, Totaro R, Russo T, Cerone D, Carolei A. A population-based study of the incidence and prognosis of lacunar stroke. Neurology 2006; 66:1335-1338.
- Bezerra DC, Sharret AR, Matsushita K, et al. Risk factors for lacune subtypes in the Artherosclerosis in Communities (ARIC) Study. Neurology 2012; 78:102-108.
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