Abnormal breathing patterns in stroke: relationship with location of acute stroke lesion and prior cerebrovascular disease

Objective: To determine whether central periodic breathing (CPB) is associated with acute involvement of any particular part of the brain, or the extent of total damage in patients with acute stroke. Methods: CPB was identified using portable monitoring equipment in patients with stroke on admission. A neuroradiologist classified acute stroke lesions and prior cerebrovascular disease on brain images. Results: Among 134 patients with acute stroke, those with CPB were more likely to have a large acute stroke lesion in a cerebral hemisphere (p = 0.01) and more mass effect (p = 0.03). There was no association between CPB and severe prior cerebrovascular disease on imaging (p = 0.76). Conclusion: CPB is related to the acute (not old) lesions, particularly large acute cerebral hemispheric lesions with mass effect. A relationship between lesions in any discrete brain location (unilateral or bilateral) and CPB could not be shown.