Ischemic strokes in young adults

Stroke is the third leading cause of death and the leading cause of acquired disability in the world. Ischemic strokes account for 80% of all strokes including 10-14% in young adults. More than one third of strokes in young people are of unknown cause making secondary prevention inadequate or ineffective.The aim of our study was to describe the characteristics of strokes in young Tunisian adults and to compare them with those of Western patients in order to prioritize the complementary examinations to be requested and to identify appropriate preventive measures.This was a descriptive cross-sectional and retrospective study carried out over a period of five years on 60 patients aged between 18 and 55 years presenting a stroke and treated in the neurology department of the Military Hospital of Tunis.The particularity of the etiological profile of the young adult confirms the interest of prioritizing the explorations.Screening and control of associated vascular risk factors can help reduce the incidence and mortality due to stroke.