Long-term prognosis of vascular hemiballismus.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the long-term prognosis of hemiballismus due to first-ever ischemic strokes. METHODS A cohort of 27 patients with hemiballismus due to first-ever ischemic strokes was followed for a mean period of 30 months (range, 5 days to 150 months). RESULTS During the follow-up period there were 11 deaths (44%). The survival rate was 85% (95% CI, 71% to 99%) at 6 months, 81% (95% CI, 65% to 97%) at 15 months, 51% (95% CI, 24% to 78%) at 36 months, and only 32% (95% CI, 4% to 60%) at 150 months. The survival rate free from recurrent stroke was 96% (95% CI, 87% to 100%) at 6 months, 91% (95% CI, 79% to 100%) at 12 months, 80% (95% CI, 61% to 99%) at 24 months, and 27% (95% CI, 0% to 71%) at 150 months. CONCLUSIONS The long-term prognosis of patients with vascular hemiballismus is similar to that of other stroke patients, ie, it follows the etiologic pattern of hemiballismus.