The Pediatric Stroke Outcome Measure: A predictor of outcome following arterial ischemic stroke.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the relationship between neurologic outcome at 1 month following diagnosis of pediatric arterial ischemic stroke (AIS) and motor and adaptive behavior outcomes at 12 months.

METHODS

This prospective longitudinal observational cohort study recruited children from a single tertiary children's hospital diagnosed with first AIS between December 2007 and November 2013. Neurologic impairment was evaluated at 4 time points using the Pediatric Stroke Outcome Measure (PSOM) or Recovery and Recurrence Questionnaire following diagnosis of AIS (acute, 1, 6, and 12 months). Motor function and adaptive behavior were assessed at 12 months using standardized measures. Children were grouped for analysis, according to age at diagnosis (neonates vs preschool vs school-aged). The relationship between neurologic impairment and 12-month functional outcomes were examined.

RESULTS

Sixty-four children were recruited (27 neonates, 19 preschool-aged, and 18 school-aged). Presence of impairment on the PSOM at 1 month was associated with lower 12-month fine motor scores ( = 0.004), gross motor scores ( = 0.001), and adaptive behavior standard scores ( = 0.004). One-month PSOM impairment score was more predictive than age group or lesion size of 12-month motor and adaptive behavior outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

The PSOM has value as a predictive tool when used at 1 month after first AIS diagnosed acutely in relation to motor and adaptive behavior, with variation according to age group.