INTRODUCTION: Stroke in young patients is a clinical challenge, due to high proportion of cryptogenic stroke. We aimed to evaluate patients between 15-59 years old who were admitted to hospital due to ischemic stroke from 2013 to 2015. METHODS: 743 medical records were reviewed from all ischemic stroke admission, resulting 123 (16.5%) patients between 15-59 years old. We evaluate: age, sex, TOAST and ASCOD criteria, from admission to discharge. RESULTS: Proportion male:female was 52.84% x 47.16%.  TOAST classification: 39.8% cryptogenic ischemic stroke, 17% small vessel disease, 13% cardioembolism, 6.5% atheroembolic and 23% other etiology. When using ASCOD criteria (1-3 points), 23% was atheroembolic, 52% small vessel, 43% cardioembolic, 21% other illness and 9% arterial dissection. The results are shown in Table 1 and 2. CONCLUSION: In young patients there is a high percentage of cryptogenic stroke, even with a complete investigation. The difference between our results on these two well standard classifications serves as an alarm: depending on the classification, the patient can receive a different management which can sometimes alter the outcome, or stay in the limbus of unknown etiology.

STROKE ETIOLOGY IN YOUNG PATIENTS FROM SOUTHERN BRAZIL: INVESTIGATION IN ACUTE PHASE