Identifying Missed Diagnostic Opportunities in Maternal Stroke

Stroke 2026

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Authors: Noora Haghighi, Raeann Marie Bourscheid, Catherine G. Shang, Elida Romo, Farhan H. Khan, Samantha Jankowski, Alison Seitz, Sara Shapouran, Lauren Mamer, William J. Meurer, Ava Leigh Liberman, Andrea D. Shields
+3 more Jane Holl, S Prabhakaran, Eliza C. Miller
DOI: 10.1161/strokeaha.125.052995
Cited by: 1
References: 41

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Pregnancy-associated stroke may present with nonfocal symptoms, leading to missed diagnostic opportunities (MDO). METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study including patients aged 18 to 50 years and pregnant or within 1 year of delivery, treated at 5 US comprehensive stroke centers from 2012 to 2021 for confirmed arterial ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, or cerebral venous thrombosis. Vascular neurologists at each site reviewed cases using a validated tool, Safer Stroke-Dx. We determined the proportion of cases with MDO and estimated 95% CIs based on a binomial distribution. RESULTS: 1 in 4 pregnant or postpartum patients with acute stroke experienced MDO. Our results suggest a need for enhanced clinician education, particularly for nonneurologists, in diagnosing stroke during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Neurological Complications and Syndromes Acute Ischemic Stroke Management Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis

Publication details

Journal / source
Stroke
Publisher
Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Volume
57
Issue
2
Pages
292–300
Publication date
26 January 2026
Language
EN