Lacunar Stroke Is the Major Cause of Progressive Motor Deficits

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Abstract
Background and Purpose — Severe motor deficits are the predominant cause of long-term disability in stroke patients. In particular, progressive hemiparesis in the initial stage after stroke onset is frequently devastating. Therefore, we attempted to define the population at risk with respect to the presumed pathogenesis. Methods — Among 941 stroke patients hospitalized during a 3-year period, 92 patients (41 men, 51 women; mean age, 68 years) had a severe motor deficit (Results — Of the 92 patients, 23.9% had significant worsening of motor function with a decrease in the mean European Stroke Scale motor score from 20.3 to 12.9 points ( P P P P P Conclusions — Lacunar stroke caused by small-vessel disease is the major cause of progressive motor deficits, probably because of stepwise occlusion of the branches of small penetrating arteries.