Pure motor stroke as the most frequent lacunar syndrome: A clinical update

Table 1 Demographic characteristics and frequency of lacunar syndromes in the Sagrat Cor Hospital of Barcelona Stroke Registry

	n (%)
Total patients	733
Male	423 (57.7)
Age, yr, mean (SD)	74.1 (10.2)
Age ≥ 85 years old	110 (15.0)
Lacunar syndromes
PMS	352 (48)
Pure sensory stroke	127 (17.4)
Sensorimotor stroke	83 (11.3)
Dysartria-clumsy hand	59 (8)
Ataxic-hemiparesis	24 (3.3)
Atypical lacunar syndromes	88 (12)

PMS: Pure motor stroke.

Table 2 Distribution of weakness related to pure motor stroke in 128 patients included in the Sagrat Cor Hospital of Barcelona Stroke Registry

Distribution of weakness	PMS (n = 128)
	n (%)
Face, arm, leg	112 (76)
Face, arm	6 (4)
Arm, leg	16 (10)
Face1	6 (4)
Arm	4 (3)
Leg	4 (3)

¹Patients with isolated pure facial central palsy with dysarthria have been included in the atypical lacunar syndrome in another study. Modified from Arboix et al[6]. PMS: Pure motor stroke.

Table 3 Topographies in pure motor stroke

Internal capsule

Pons

Corona radiata/centrum semiovale

Basal ganglia

Mesencepahalon

Medullary pyramid

Cerebral cortex1

¹Cerebral topography related to PMS not due to lacunar infarct. PMS: Pure motor stroke.

Table 4 Pure motor stroke not due to lacunar infarcts

Non-lacunar ischemic stroke1

Cardioembolic stroke

Atherothrombotic infarct

Internal carotid artery occlusion in the neck

Ventromedial pontine infarction due to a propagating thrombosis of the basilar branch

Complex aortic atheroma plaques

Ischemic stroke of unusual etiology

Ischemia-edema after craniotomy for postoperative bleeding

Intracerebral hemorrhage

Subdural hematoma

Brain abscess of the motor cortex

Cerebral metastasis

Demyelinating disease

¹Cerebral cortical surface infarction or large deep infarction (> 20 mm diameter).