Electrocardiographic Changes and Serum Troponin Levels in Patients with Acute Stroke, A Prospective Descriptive Analytical Study from Sudan
Abstract Background:Electrocardiographic changes and elevated serum troponin are frequent findings in acute stroke. They may reflect what is known as the neuro-genic myocardial injury. However, as stroke and cardiac diseases share the same risk factors. Coexistence of the two is highly susceptible.Objectives:To determine the electrocardiographic changes and serum troponin level in acute stroke patients and to correlate these changes to the anatomical location and pathological type of the stroke.Methods:A prospective descriptive analytical study was conducted at the national center of neurological Science, from January to December 2019 Study was done at the neurological center in Sudan, The National Center of Neurological sciences. All cases presented with acute stroke during the study period were included. Non-probability sampling, with total coverage during study period was considered. 50 patients were included in the study. Data were analyzed by using (SPSS) version 25. 12 standards ECG were performed in the first hours of admission. 2 samples from each patient were obtained for serum troponin with at least 8 hours apart.Results:All patients had wide variants of ECG changes. But tachycardia was the most frequent one identified in 54% of patients (27/50). Half of them were found to have an anterior circulation stroke. 14% of patients (7/50) have positive troponin; ECG changes identified in all of patients who represent positive troponin100 %( 7patients). Moreover, anterior circulation stroke was recognized in all patients with positive troponin I marker.Conclusion:This study suggests that ECG abnormalities in patients with acute stroke are very common, especially tachycardia. The site of lesion appears to play major factor as a cause of genesis of arrhythmia. Concomitant cardiac diseases may present .Serum troponin elevation may play a role in diagnosing neuro-cardiogenic injury but, ECG appears to be more sensitive and familial.