Perinatal Stroke

Perinatal stroke refers to strokes that occur between 20 weeks of gestation and 28 days postnatally, and it is increasingly recognized as a significant cause of neurologic complications such as cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and behavioral disorders, along with impaired visual and language development. The incidence of perinatal stroke is approximately 1 in 2,000 live births. This condition can be classified based on various criteria, including blood supply (venous or arterial), age at stroke (fetal or neonatal), and type (ischemic or hemorrhagic). Perinatal arterial ischemic stroke (PAIS) is defined by focal disruptions in cerebral blood flow arising from arterial issues or cerebral sinovenous thrombosis. PAIS is further categorized into fetal ischemic stroke, neonatal ischemic stroke, and presumed perinatal ischemic stroke, depending on the diagnosis timing. Perinatal hemorrhagic stroke is less defined but can also be categorized similarly to ischemic strokes.