5:30 p.m. #P164 Chiropractic manipulation may be underestimated as cause of stroke Stroke as a result of chiropractic manipulation may be underreported, especially in young women, according to the largest known prospective study of arterial trauma and stroke. In this ongoing study, Canadian researchers examined 98 cases in which external trauma ranging from trivial to severe was identified as the trigger of ischemic strokes, the type of strokes caused by the formation of blood clots in arteries supplying the brain with blood. Chiropractic-style neck manipulation was the apparent cause in 39 percent of cases (38 cases). Of the 98 cases, there were 30 vertebral and 8 carotid dissections. More occurred in women (36) than in men (12). Sixteen percent of individuals studied had a congenital disorder such as Marfans Syndrome, fibro-muscular dysplasia (FMD) or Ehles-Danlos Type IV Syndrome. These conditions may make individuals more vulnerable to trauma-related injuries to their fragile arteries. Epidemiological data from Canadian statistics indicate the incidence of ischemic strokes in people under age 45 is about 750 a year. The researchers say that their data indicates that 20 percent are due to neck manipulation, so there may be a gross underreporting of chiropractic manipulation as a cause of stroke.

Dr. Beletsky can be reached at (416) 480-4287 and by e-mail at vados@istar.ca.

5:30 p.m. #P172 Hyperglycemia linked to poor stroke prognosis. Animal and human studies indicate that high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) during stroke is associated with larger areas of brain-damaged tissue and a poor prognosis. In this study, researchers analyzed the outcomes of patients who had hyperglycemia before receiving thrombolysis (clot-busting). Of 119 patients treated with thrombolytics between December 19
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Contact: Carole Bullock
210-582-7159
American Heart Association
8-Feb-2002