Young ManS Life rebuilt After Cryptogenic Stroke at SS. Annunziata Hospital
Savigliano, Italy – Roberto, a 36-year-old man, is regaining his future thanks to a new clinic dedicated to juvenile and cryptogenic stroke at the SS. Annunziata Hospital in Savigliano.The clinic, launched last spring, offers specialized diagnosis, prevention, and long-term care for stroke patients whose cause initially remains unknown.
Stroke is often associated with older adults, but increasingly, younger individuals are experiencing thes life-altering events. Frequently enough, the reasons behind these strokes are complex and difficult to pinpoint, involving factors such as patent foramen ovale, arterial dissections, coagulation disorders, genetic diseases, or inflammatory conditions. When investigations fail to reveal a clear cause,the stroke is termed “cryptogenic.”
Recognizing this critical need, the Complex Neurology Structure at SS. Annunziata Hospital established a dedicated clinic to address these challenging cases. The clinic’s core mission is to determine the underlying cause of the stroke and prevent recurrence.
“The clinic works like a hinge between multiple specialties,” explains Iacopo Battaglini, director of the Neurology Structure. “Collaboration with Cardiology is crucial to evaluate and treat conditions such as patent foramen ovale or silent arrhythmias. Internal Medicine provides essential skills in the management of thrombophilias and coagulation disorders. Radiology is fundamental for the study of the brain and the wall of arterial vessels.” He added that medical genetics, rheumatology, and sports medicine may also be involved, emphasizing that “in young people every stroke is a story in itself and must be reconstructed piece by piece.”
The clinic’s approach focuses on identifying the cause, providing targeted treatment when possible, and ensuring ongoing patient follow-up.
Federico Riboldi, regional councilor for health, highlighted the importance of this multidisciplinary approach. “Intervene promptly on time-dependent diseases and work in multidisciplinary teams is the correct way to deal in the most effective way, with a high probability of a positive outcome, with complex interventions.The activation of a clinic dedicated to the management of juvenile and cryptogenic stroke…is one of the many examples of public health truly close to citizens.”
For Roberto, and others like him, the clinic represents a renewed sense of hope and a pathway to a more secure future.
