Table 3.

Most common causes of stroke in patients < 50 years old.

Causes of strokes in young patients

More common

Cryptogenic (up to 30%)

Congenital and acquired heart disease

Drugs (Cocaine, methamphetamine)

Less common

Endocarditis

Arterial dissection

Traumatic

Fibromuscular dysplasia

CNS vasculitis

Large vessel vasculitis

Pregnancy

Oral contraceptives

Inherited prothrombotic states

SLE/APS

Systemic autoimmune diseases

Leukaemia and other malignancies

Metabolic disorders

Protein-losing enteropathy

Nephrotic syndrome