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Background: Cerebrovascular event is a clinical condition characterized by symptoms and findings pertaining to loss of focal cerebral function because of the vascular causes. Atherosclerosis has a forefront role in the pathogenesis of stroke. Inflammation has an important place in the formation of atherogenesis and atherosclerosis. Visceral adipose tissue-derived serpin (vaspin) is a new adipokine, which is identified recently, associated with obesity and diabetes and also has a proinflammatory characteristic. This study was intended to investigate the relation between vaspin and stroke and stroke and other risk factors., Methods: A total of 50 patients with stroke, as 28 men (56%) and 22 women (44%), and a total of 50 healthy individuals, as 25 men (50%) and 25 women (50%), were enrolled in the study. Blood samples were taken in the acute period (first 48 hours) in the patient group, and serum vaspin levels were measured. Vaspin level was also measured in the control group. The association of vaspin with the lipid parameters, gender, and the severity of internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis in the patient group was evaluated. Stenotic plaques in ICA were classified as normal, mild (stenosis under 50%), moderate (stenosis 50%-69%), severe (stenosis 70%-99% to preocclusion), and occlusion., Results: No statistically significant difference was found between 2 groups in terms of age and gender (P > .05). Vaspin levels were found to be significantly higher in the patient group (164.73 ± 153.76 ng/mL) compared with the control group (116.21 ± 34.60 ng/mL) (P < .05). However, no relation was established between vaspin level and the severity of ICA stenosis., Conclusions: Vaspin levels have been shown to increase in acute ischemic stroke patients. The increased vaspin levels may vary depending on several factors in acute period of ischemic stroke., (Crown Copyright © 2014. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: We sought to determine the risk factors and clinical outcomes of pregnant women with cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT)., Methods: Nineteen pregnant patients with a diagnosis of CVT were followed in the neurology unit between 2009 and 2012. Patients with central nervous system infection and with CVT secondary to invasive procedures were excluded. Magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance venography were performed for all patients., Results: There were 19 pregnant women ranging in age from 18 to 38 years (mean 27.5 years). The follow-up period ranged from 11 to 24 months (mean 19 months). Symptoms and signs that suggested a rise in intracranial pressure were present nearly in all cases, including headache, vomiting with or without nausea, disturbances of consciousness, and papilledema. Seizures and status epilepticus (with or without preeclampsia) were present in 8 cases. The rate of CVT was higher in the third trimester. The superior sagittal and transverse sinuses were the most commonly affected cerebral sinuses in our patients, and parenchymal involvement was present in 7 patients. There was no maternal mortality, and 20 infants were still alive and healthy., Conclusions: If magnetic resonance imaging is available, it should be used for the detection of CVT in all pregnant patients instead of computed tomography. Patients with parenchymal lesions, thrombophilia, and antiphospholipid syndrome had a greater risk of being left with neurologic sequelae. For pregnant patients with CVT, low molecular weight heparin in full anticoagulant doses should be continued throughout the pregnancy. Anticoagulant therapy did not appear to predispose patients to further intracranial hemorrhage., (Copyright © 2013 National Stroke Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)