Cerebral Vascular
disease in Tropical
NOTE: Translated
using software of
translation of
Spanish to English
ABSTRACT:
Objectives. To review the clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and
therapy of diseases causing cerebrovascular disease (CVD) in the tropics.
Development. Most prevalent conditions causing CVD in the tropics include:
sickle cell disease, Takayasu’s arteritis, cysticercosis, infective
endocarditis, Chagas’ disease, viral hemorrhagic fevers,
gnathostomiasis, leptospirosis, snake bites, cerebral malaria, puerperal
venous thrombosis, and tuberculosis. These conditions may cause cerebral
infarcts or hemorrhages, and in most instances are related to either
vascular damage secondary to angiitis or hemorrhagic diathesis with
bleeding in other organs. In some patients, the severity of the
neurological picture makes impossible to identify an specific stroke
syndrome and cerebrovascular complications are only recognized on
neuroimaging studies or autopsy. Conclusions. There is a group of tropical
infectious and non-infectious diseases that may cause cerebral infarcts or
hemorrhages. Prompt diagnosis and therapy are needed to reduce the
severity or brain damage and to avoid recurrent strokes.
Author:
Ecuadorian
magazine of neurology
