ISCHAEMIC CEREBROVASCULAR DISEASE IN YOUNG ADULTS: 2. Serum cholesterol and triglyceride values

Abstract

The material analysed consisted of 213 patients younger than 50 years of age who were suffering from ischaemic cerebrovascular disease. Serum cholesterol values were measured in 202 patients (95 per cent of all cases) and triglycerides were measured in 181 patients (85 percent of all cases), and the values were then compared with those of a Finnish population study. There was no difference in cholesterol values between the patients and the population. The triglyceride values of men aged 40 to 49 years and of women aged 30 to 39 and 40 to 49 years suffering from ischaemic cerebrovascular disease were significantly higher than those obtained from the population study. Thus it seems unlikely that cholesterol values have any association with ischaemic stroke occurring before the age of 50 years whereas the high triglyceride values may be associated with an increased risk of ischaemic cerebrovascular disease at a relatively young age.