Prevalence of hemineglect syndrome in patients after ischemic stroke

Introduction. Neglect of one half of space is a result of damage to one hemisphere, most often after right-sided, nondominant damage. The
term "neglect" is used to describe inattention specific to space or body usually contralateral to the side of brain injury. Unilateral neglect is
a heterogeneous syndrome and inattention includes ignoring contralesional sights, sounds, smells, tactile or imagined stimuli.

Aim. The aim of this study was to asses the frequency of hemispatial neglect and resolution of symptoms with time in a consecutive group
of patients with ischemic stroke.

Material and methods. The following data were analyzed: medical history patients after ischemic stroke, neurological examination, activities
of daily leaving. Five "pencil-paper" tests from Behavioral Innatention Test were used to verify diagnosis of neglect. The examination was
performed in the first and fourteenth day of patient’s hospital stay.

Results and conclusions. The neglect was diagnosed in 41% of patients. The most common symptoms were: sensory neglect, anosognosia
and extrapersonal neglect. The resolution of symptoms was seen during a few weeks, especially with regard to activities of everyday leaving.