Summary

Cerebral arteriopathy is the strongest predictor of recurrent arterial ischemic stroke (AIS) in childhood [Fullerton HJ et al. Pediatrics 2007]. This article discusses results from the International Pediatric Stroke Study [IPSS], which suggest a role for infection in the pathogenesis of cerebral arteriopathy. Also discussed are the results of a retrospective study that showed that circulating endothelial cells can be used to track cerebral arteriopathy-associated vascular injury and to differentiate progressive versus nonprogressive disease in children with AIS.