Strokes in children: a systematic review.

Context: Pediatric strokes lead to significant morbidity and mortality. To date, no systematic review has been available to guide the initial diagnostic approach to pediatric stroke.

Objective: The objective of this review was to elucidate the current data regarding etiologies of stroke in children and then develop an initial diagnostic evaluation for the pediatric patient presenting to the emergency department with a stroke.

Data Source: Using the PubMed engine, the MEDLINE database was searched using the Preferred Reporting Items in Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.

Study Selection: The inclusion and exclusion criteria were established a priori. Studies must have extractable data regarding first strokes in pediatric patients with clear diagnostic categories.

Data Extraction: A standardized tool was developed to extract demographic data and stroke etiologies.

Results: Twelve studies were found that met the inclusion criteria. From these studies, a total of 1455 children aged between 21 days and 20 years were available to assess the etiologies of stroke.

Conclusions: In pediatric patients, the etiologies of stroke are varied and differ for children with ischemic stroke versus hemorrhagic stroke. With the present systematic review, a guide to the initial evaluation of stroke is presented.