Presumed perinatal ischemic stroke: A review.

The risk of stroke is actually highest during the perinatal period. However, some newborn infants may have no signs indicative of the need of brain imaging, or brain images taken may not be sensitive enough to diagnose ischemic injuries; so, the diagnosis of stroke may be delayed several months or years. The neurological picture in patients with perinatal stroke detected through neuroimaging months or years after the neonatal period is called presumed perinatal ischemic stroke. Although a presumed perinatal ischemic stroke is just a confirmation of the existence of an important level of underdiagnosis in relation to perinatal stroke, establishing the extent of this condition has allowed to improve knowledge on perinatal ischemic vascular disease.