Peer-reviewed article
From Acute Events to Chronic Burden: A 16-Year Single-Center Experience in Pediatric Cerebrovascular Diseases
Esma Şengenç, Arlin Tunc, Serhat Güler, Hüseyin Kılıç, Nergis Akay et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-sonnet-5-5This is a retrospective review of 25 children diagnosed with cerebrovascular disease (stroke and related conditions) at one tertiary pediatric neurology center between 2010 and 2026. It describes who the children were, what caused the disease, how it showed up, what scans found, how they were treated and how they did over time. Most strokes were ischemic (68%), and the rest were hemorrhagic (32%). Few children died (4%), but 60% had lasting neurological problems and 52% developed epilepsy after the stroke. The authors conclude that early recognition, full neurovascular imaging and long-term multidisciplinary follow-up are important.
Key points
- Mean age at diagnosis was 8.4 years, and 60% of patients were male.
- 68% had ischemic stroke and 32% had hemorrhagic stroke; blood/clotting disorders and vasculopathies were the most common causes.
- The leading presenting symptoms were acute-onset hemiparesis, headache and seizures.
- Pediatric intensive care admission was significantly more frequent with hemorrhagic stroke (P < .001) and was associated with long-term neurological sequelae (P = .004).
- Long-term neurological sequelae occurred in 60% and post-stroke epilepsy in 52%; mortality was 4% and the median mRS score at last follow-up was 2.
Limitations
The study is retrospective, covers only 25 children at a single center, and so cannot show how common these conditions are or whether the findings apply elsewhere. It does not evaluate any intervention, and the document does not name the country where the work was done.
Abstract
Objective: Childhood cerebrovascular diseases (CVDs) comprise a heterogeneous group of disorders associated with significant neurological morbidity and long-term functional impairment. Despite increasing awareness, epidemiological and outcome data in pediatric populations remain limited. This study aimed to evaluate the demographic characteristics, etiological distribution, clinical presentation, neuroimaging findings, treatment approaches, and long-term outcomes of pediatric patients diagnosed with CVD in a tertiary pediatric neurology center. Methods: This retrospective single-center study included 25 pediatric patients diagnosed with CVD and followed up between 2010 and 2026. Demographic data, clinical findings, etiological factors, neuroimaging characteristics, treatment strategies, and follow-up outcomes were retrospectively reviewed. Functional outcomes were assessed using the Modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Results: The mean age at diagnosis was 8.4 years, and 60% of patients were male. Ischemic stroke was identified in 68% of patients, whereas 32% had hemorrhagic stroke. Hematologic/thrombophilic disorders and vasculopathies represented the most common etiological subgroups. Acute-onset hemiparesis, headache, and seizures were the leading presenting symptoms. Neuroimaging abnormalities were detected in all patients, with multiple lesions observed in 68% and bilateral involvement in 44% of cases. Pediatric intensive care unit admission was significantly more frequent among patients with hemorrhagic stroke (P < .001), and was significantly associated with long-term neurological sequelae development (P = .004). Long-term neurological sequelae were identified in 60% of patients, and post-stroke epilepsy developed in 52%. Mortality was 4%, while the median mRS score at the last follow-up visit was 2. Conclusion: Pediatric CVDs are associated with substantial long-term neurological burden despite relatively low mortality rates. Hemorrhagic events were linked to more severe clinical outcomes and higher intensive care requirements. Early recognition, comprehensive neurovascular imaging, and multidisciplinary long-term follow-up are essential for improving neurological outcomes in affected children. Cite this article as: Sengenc E, Tunc A, Guler S, et al. From acute events to chronic burden: a 16-year single-center experience in pediatric cerebrovascular diseases. Cerrahpaşa Med J 2026, 50, 0098, doi: 10.5152/cjm.2026.26098.