The following factors are suggested as pathogenesis of ESUS: * Subclinical atrial fibrillation: Detectable in ~2.7-30% of ESUS patients, depending on duration and modality of ECG monitoring. * Patent foramen ovale (PFO): Deep vein thrombosis may result in paradoxical<unk> m in patients with PFO. About 40% of patients with cryptogenic stroke have PFO compared with 25% of the general population. However, the actual<unk><unk>  can often not be identified. * Non-stenotic arterial plaques: Complicated plaques with signs indicative of intra-plaque haemorrhage in an ipsilateral carotid artery are detected in 1 in 4 of patients with cryptogenic stroke. Aortic arch atherosclerosis is believed to be a specific cause of ESUS, particularly with plaques >4 mm diameter. * Further cardiopathies: the risk of ischaemic stroke is increased by supraventricular tachycardias. This also applies to patients with elevated NT-proBNP levels and patients with atrial enlargement in cardiac ultrasound. * Other causes: Arterial dissections, infection-related vasculopathies (esp. Varicella zoster virus), thrombophilia, cancer-related thrombosis, migraine, Fabry disease and other genetic, autoimmune or rheumatic causes.
Embolic stroke of undetermined source
Lacunar stroke
Posterior circulation infarct
Watershed stroke
Partial anterior circulation infarct
Posterior cerebral artery syndrome
Anterior cerebral artery syndrome
Hemorrhagic infarct