Stroke recurrence within the first year following cerebral infarction - Tottori University Lacunar Infarction Prognosis Study (TULIPS)*

Objectives – To identify determinants of recurrence after ischemic stroke in the Japanese population. Materials and methods – We enrolled 885 patients with acute ischemic stroke that had been admitted to our community hospitals. A total of 831 cases were followed for 1 year after the index stroke. Patients were assigned to one of the ischemic stroke subtype groups based on the NINDS Stroke Data Bank criteria. Results – Rates of stroke recurrence were significantly different among stroke subtype groups: 14.4% in cardioembolic infarction, 7.3% in atherothrombotic infarction (ATI), 6.2% in lacunar infarction (LI) and 7.8% in infarction of uncertain cause. Previous history of stroke was the predictor of stroke recurrence for the groups of ATI and LI patients, and diabetes mellitus was the predictor of recurrence for the group of LI patients. Conclusion – The rate of recurrence and risk factors for stroke recurrence are different by stroke subtypes.