Other causes of cerebral infarction

Less commonly, cerebral infarction may result from:

• cerebral vasospasm:
  • following subarachnoid haemorrhage
  • migraine
• haemodynamic effects:
  • following a rapid fall in local perfusion pressure in severe systemic hypotension or cardiac arrest
  • carotid occlusion in patients with an inadequate collateral supply from the contralateral carotid artery
  • subclavian steal syndrome - usually causes TIA
• vasculitis - a rare but important cause of cerebral infarction as immediate immunosuppressive therapy is indicated; more common causes include giant cell arteritis, polyarteritis nodosa, systemic lupus erythematosus, Takayasu's disease, radiation angiopathy