Cryptogenic stroke. A non-diagnosis

Abstract

The term cryptogenic stroke refers to a stroke for which there is no specific attributable cause after a comprehensive evaluation. However, there are differences between the diagnostic criteria of etiological classifications used in clinical practice. An improvement in diagnostic tools such advances in monitoring for atrial fibrillation, advances in vascular imaging and evidence regarding the implication of patent foramen oval on the risk of stroke specially in young patients are reducing the proportion of stroke patients without etiological diagnosis. We carried out a critical review of the current concept of cryptogenic stroke, as a non-diagnosis, avoiding the simplification of it and reviewing the different entities that could fall under this diagnosis and reviewing the different entities that could fall under this diagnosis; and therefore avoid the same treatment for differents entities with uncertains results.

Keywords: Advance Cardiac monitoring; Atherosclerotic plaques; Cryptogenic stroke; Foramen oval permeable; Ictus criptogénico; Monitorización cardíaca prolongada; Patent foramen oval; Placa de ateroma.