Abnormal breathing patterns in stroke: relationship with location of acute stroke lesion and prior cerebrovascular disease.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether central periodic breathing (CPB) is associated with acute involvement of any particular part of the brain, or the extent of total damage in patients with acute stroke. METHODS CPB was identified using portable monitoring equipment in patients with stroke on admission. A neuroradiologist classified acute stroke lesions and prior cerebrovascular disease on brain images. RESULTS Among 134 patients with acute stroke, those with CPB were more likely to have a large acute stroke lesion in a cerebral hemisphere (p = 0.01) and more mass effect (p = 0.03). There was no association between CPB and severe prior cerebrovascular disease on imaging (p = 0.76). CONCLUSION CPB is related to the acute (not old) lesions, particularly large acute cerebral hemispheric lesions with mass effect. A relationship between lesions in any discrete brain location (unilateral or bilateral) and CPB could not be shown.