Journal of AdvancedMedical and Dental Sciences Research

Background: Pregnancy increases the risk of focal ischemic cerebrovascular events. The risk of stroke and cerebrovascular complications are increased in pregnancy and puerperium compared to the non-pregnant women. The present study was conducted to assess cerebrovascular complications during pregnancy. Materials & Methods: 86 women with cerebrovascular complications during pregnancywere subjected to contrast and non-contrast-enhanced computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Patients were classified into three stroke groups: ischaemic stroke (IS), intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT). Parameters such as etiology, previous abortion, parity, Cesarean delivery etc. was recorded. Results: type of CVA was ischaemic stroke in 26, intracerebral hemorrhage in 18 and cerebral venous thrombosis in 42 cases. Primiparous were 30%,35% and 40%, multiparous were 65%, 67% and 70%, previous abortion seen in 32%, 30% and 17%, cesarean delivery in 38%, 22% and 16%, puerperal infection in 12%, 8% and 13%, anemiain 22%, 31% and 60%, pre-eclampsia in 10%, 24% and 9%, eclampsia in 24%, 30% and 2%, previous TIA in 5%, 1% and 1%, chronic hypertension in 1%, 5% and 2% and cigarette smoking in 12%, 6% and 8% in IS, ICH and CVT respectively. Etiology was pre-eclampsia/eclampsia in 35, vascular malformation in 20, chronic hypertension in 24 and metastatic choriocarcinomain 7 cases. Conclusion: Pre-eclampsia/eclampsia was the most common factorassociated with ICH and IS.