The hypotensive stroke.

In a retrospective study of necropsies done in a general hospital over five years (1971-75), fatal strokes in elderly patients often appeared to be due to acute hypotension caused by such extracranial events as heart-failure, occult haemorrhage, or multiple pulmonary emboli. In patients over the age of 60, 47 out of 120 strokes were interpreted as being caused in this way; in patients aged 70 or more, 35 out of 72. The findings suggest that more active investigation and treatment of such extracranial disease might improve the prognosis of the elderly patient with stroke.