Introduction
Early-onset ischemic stroke presents a significant clinical challenge, often occurring in the absence of traditional vascular risk factors. In approximately 30% to 50% of patients aged 18 to 49, the underlying cause remains undetermined despite extensive diagnostic evaluation, a condition termed cryptogenic ischemic stroke (CIS). Recent evidence has increasingly pointed toward transient triggers, such as acute infections, as potential catalysts for these events. While the link between infection and stroke is well-established in older populations with atherosclerosis, its role in young CIS patients—where thromboinflammatory mechanisms might predominate—has remained less clear. The SECRETO study, a multicenter case-control investigation, provides critical insights into how recent infections and specific coagulation biomarkers contribute to the risk of early-onset CIS.
