Posterior circulation stroke associated demographics, risk factors and aetiology
Reviewed by Lauren Hepworth

The authors present a retrospective case notes review of patients diagnosed with homonymous hemianopia following a radiologically confirmed stroke. A total of 85 patients were identified by searching an electronic medical records system over an 11-year period. Data were extracted from the medical notes including time of diagnosis, demographics, presenting symptoms, pre-diagnosis medication, stroke risk factors, inpatient telemetry, and brain imaging. When comparing this cohort to a local registry it is significantly younger, with higher rates of high cholesterol with more than 80% having more than two risk factors. A definitive aetiology could not be defined for 40%, which may be due to incomplete evaluation in over half of these cases. The findings of this study agree with other studies in that posterior circulation stroke occur at a younger age than anterior circulation stroke. This is a reminder that investigations for posterior circulation stroke should be undertaken when a patient presents with sudden visual field loss.

Demographics, risk factors and etiology of posterior cerebral artery stroke causing homonymous hemianopia.
Liu EA, Murali S, Rivera-de Choudens R, Trobe JD.
JOURNAL OF NEURO-OPHTHALMOLOGY
2023;43:387–92.