Cardiac changes in acute ischemic stroke

Abstract

Purpose: the analysis of the paraclinical features of heart changes in the acute ischemic stroke, especially electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities. Material and methods. We performed a prospective study on 23 patients admitted in our stroke unit with large lesions induced by acute ischemic strokes and no history of cardiovascular disease. Results. The average age of patients was 72,87 +/- 11,55 years. On admission NIHSS score was higher in the cardioembolic stroke patients compared to atherothrombotic stroke patients, the difference persisting after the first seven days. Echocardiography demonstrated a larger left atrium area in cardioembolic compared to atherothrombotic stroke patients. The E-wave deceleration time (a diastolic function parameter) was longer in atherothrombotic compared to cardioembolic stroke. The ECG monitoring and repeated 24h Holter monitoring detected atrial fi brillation (AF) in 52, 17% of the patients and it was associated with a higher in-hospital mortality and stroke severity. No significant correlation was found between the increase in troponin T levels and AF, or in-hospital mortality. Discussions. In our study atherothrombotic stroke is associated with a more pronounced tendency to diastolic dysfunction compared to cardioembolic stroke. The percentage of detected AF is higher than expected because of: 1) the higher average age of patients, 2) the inclusion of patients with large strokes, and 3) continuous ECG and Holter monitoring for longer periods of time compared to the usual procedure in stroke patients. Conclusion. The cardiologic monitoring has strong implications for stroke mechanisms and short and long-term outcome and prognosis of the patients.

Keywords

• stroke
• diastolic dysfunction
• atrial fi brillation