Cerebrovascular Accidents In Myopathies

Abstract

Several types of stroke in myopathies are described: ischemic, metabolic, or cryptogenic. Ischemic stroke may be categorized as cardioembolic, angiopathic, hemodynamic, or thrombophilic. Cardiac involvement in the form of atrial fibrillation/flutter, dilated cardiomyopathy, or non-compaction Cardioembolic could ensue in stroke. Angiopathic stroke occurs provided that there is atherosclerosis or mitochondrial disorders. Thrombophilic stroke may happen in polymyositis or dermatomyositis along with anti-phospholipid syndrome. Metabolic stroke usually manifests as stroke-like episode and is a distinct feature of various mitochondrial disorders, principally MELAS syndrome. The clinical manifestations are as a result of a vasogenic edema, demonstrating as hyperintensity on T2, DWI, and apparent diffusion coefficient mapping. Differentiation between ischemic and metabolic stroke is essential in terms of diagnosis, therapy, and prognosis. In conclusion, ischemic stroke attributable to cardioembolism, arteriopathy, or thrombophilia are occasional events in myopathies, but metabolic stroke is a frequent feature of mitochondrial disorders.