scholarly journals Non-stenotic Carotid Plaques in Embolic Stroke of Unknown Source

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph Kamtchum-Tatuene ◽  
Ali Z. Nomani ◽  
Sarina Falcione ◽  
Danielle Munsterman ◽  
Gina Sykes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Causal Relationship ◽  
Causal Link ◽  
Embolic Stroke ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Carotid Plaques ◽  
Unknown Source ◽  
Rna Biomarkers

Embolic stroke of unknown source (ESUS) represents one in five ischemic strokes. Ipsilateral non-stenotic carotid plaques are identified in 40% of all ESUS. In this narrative review, we summarize the evidence supporting the potential causal relationship between ESUS and non-stenotic carotid plaques; discuss the remaining challenges in establishing the causal link between non-stenotic plaques and ESUS and describe biomarkers of potential interest for future research. In support of the causal relationship between ESUS and non-stenotic carotid plaques, studies have shown that plaques with high-risk features are five times more prevalent in the ipsilateral vs. the contralateral carotid and there is a lower incidence of atrial fibrillation during follow-up in patients with ipsilateral non-stenotic carotid plaques. However, non-stenotic carotid plaques with or without high-risk features often coexist with other potential etiologies of stroke, notably atrial fibrillation (8.5%), intracranial atherosclerosis (8.4%), patent foramen ovale (5–9%), and atrial cardiopathy (2.4%). Such puzzling clinical associations make it challenging to confirm the causal link between non-stenotic plaques and ESUS. There are several ongoing studies exploring whether select protein and RNA biomarkers of plaque progression or vulnerability could facilitate the reclassification of some ESUS as large vessel strokes or help to optimize secondary prevention strategies.

P4139Prediction of atrial fibrillation in embolic stroke of unknown source

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
F T Range ◽  
D P Peters ◽  
T Zeus ◽  
S Jander ◽  
P Mueller ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Patient Characteristics ◽  
Embolic Stroke ◽  
Baseline Heart Rate ◽  
Loop Recorder ◽  
Chads2 Score ◽  
Unknown Source ◽  
Significant Difference

Abstract Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the leading cardiogenic causes for embolic stroke of unknown source (ESUS). Its incidence is growing with patients' age. Detection and rule out of AF is complex and cumbersome. The best method is an implantable loop recorder (ILR). In patients elder than 60 years, incidence of AF is reported incongruently and reliable patient characteristics that can predict a low or high risk for AF are scarce. Purpose This study reports real life incidences of AF in a group of patients undergoing ILR after ESUS. It aims to depict age dependency of AF and to identify potential confounding factors. Methods In a single center study, we analysed 111 patients (age=62±13 years, nmale=65) who received an ILR in our centre following ESUS. Patient characteristics, brain imaging, hemodynamic monitoring, blood pressure, electrocardiography, holter ecg and echocardiography data from the initial hospital stay and ILR follow-up over a mean of 460 days were analysed. Primary endpoint was the recording of AF during follow-up. Results AF was detected in 23% of all patients. Patients with AF were significantly elder than those without AF (p=0.01). Incidence of AF was in Patients <60y: 14%, 60–69y: 13%, 70–79y: 45%, >80y: 67%. We observed a significant difference in AF incidence comparing patients younger and elder than 70 years (p=0.034). Both, CHADS-Vasc (p=0.036) and HATCH-scores (p=0.018) were higher in the AF group while the simple CHADS2 Score missed significance (p=0.068). PQ duration was longer in AF patients (p=0.022) and baseline heart rate at admission was lower (p=0.027). NIHSS scores were lower in the AF group at admission (2.97 vs. 4.10; p=0.049) but due to less neurological improvement in the AF group, this difference faded until dismission (1.09 vs 1.79 p=ns). Conclusions In our real life ILR group following ESUS, strongest predictor of AF was age. Pivot point rather was at 70 than at 60 years of age.

Risk of Ischemic Stroke in High Risk Atrial Fibrillation Patients during Periods of Warfarin Discontinuation for Surgical Procedures

2016 ◽  
Vol 42 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 346-351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adnan I. Qureshi ◽  
Nauman Jahangir ◽  
Ahmed A. Malik ◽  
Mohammad Rauf Afzal ◽  
Fayyaz Orfi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Ischemic Stroke ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Surgical Procedures ◽  
Left Ventricular ◽  
Left Ventricular Ejection ◽  
Systemic Hypertension ◽  
Ventricular Ejection Fraction

Importance: The risk of ischemic stroke during periods of warfarin discontinuation for surgical procedures is recognized but not well characterized. Objective: The study aimed to quantitate the risk of ischemic stroke associated with high risk atrial fibrillation during periods of warfarin discontinuation. Design, Setting and Participants: A cohort of 4,060 patients (mean follow-up period of 3.5 ± 1.3 years) were randomized into the Atrial Fibrillation Follow-Up Investigation of Rhythm Management study. Patients enrolled in the study had atrial fibrillation plus at least one other risk factor for stroke or death: age ≥65 years', systemic hypertension, diabetes mellitus, congestive heart failure, transient ischemic attack, prior stroke, left atrium >50 mm, left ventricular fractional shortening <25% or left ventricular ejection fraction <40%. Exposure: Warfarin discontinuation for procedure. Main Outcome and Measures: The association of warfarin discontinuation with the incidence of ischemic stroke using pooled repeated measures and Cox proportional hazards analyses during follow-up after adjusting for age, gender, obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, cigarette smoking and study period. Results: Warfarin discontinuation for procedure occurred in 265 (0.4%) of the 71,355 person observations. Compared with those without warfarin discontinuation, the rate of ischemic stroke was higher among participants with surgery-related warfarin discontinuation (1.1% of 265 person observations vs. 0.2% of 71,090 person observations, p = 0.001). Warfarin discontinuation was associated with an increased risk for ischemic stroke (relative risk 5.8; 95% CI 1.8-18.4) after adjusting for potential confounders. The population-attributable risk associated with surgery-related warfarin discontinuation was estimated to be 23.1% (95% CI 15.2-30.9%) for ischemic stroke. Conclusions and Relevance: The 6-fold higher risk of ischemic stroke associated with discontinuation of warfarin for surgical procedures must be recognized in high risk atrial fibrillation patients and considered in the risk-benefit analysis of any procedure.

Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source and Detection of Atrial Fibrillation on Follow-Up: How Much Causality Is There?

2016 ◽  
Vol 25 (12) ◽  
pp. 2975-2980 ◽  
Author(s):  
George Ntaios ◽  
Vasileios Papavasileiou ◽  
Gregory Y.H. Lip ◽  
Haralampos Milionis ◽  
Konstantinos Makaritsis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Embolic Stroke

Abstract 19763: Role of HAS-BLED Score on Major Bleeding in Atrial Fibrillation Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With Drug-eluting Stents

Circulation ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 132 (suppl_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshitaka Ito ◽  
Kazuhiro Naito ◽  
Katsuhisa Waseda ◽  
Hiroaki Takashima ◽  
Akiyoshi Kurita ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Anticoagulant Therapy ◽  
Major Bleeding ◽  
Stent Implantation ◽  
Risk Group ◽  
High Risk Group ◽  
Low Risk

Background: While anticoagulant therapy is standard management for atrial fibrillation (Af), dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) is needed after stent implantation for coronary artery disease. HAS-BLED score estimates risk of major bleeding for patients on anticoagulation to assess risk-benefit in Af care. However, it is little known about usefulness of HAS-BLED score in Af patient treated with coronary stents requiring DAPT or DAPT plus warfarin (triple therapy: TT). The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of HAS-BLED score on major bleeding in Af patients undergoing DAPT or TT. Methods: A total of 837 consecutive patients were received PCI in our hospital from Jan. 2007 to Dec. 2010, and 66 patients had Af or paroxysmal Af at the time of PCI. Clinical events including major bleeding (cerebral or gastrointestinal bleeding) were investigated up to 3 years. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on HAS-BLED score (High-risk group: HAS-BLED score≥4, n=19 and Low-risk group: HAS-BLED score<4, n=47). DAPT therapy was required for a minimum 12 months after stent implantation and warfarin was prescribed based on physicians’ discretion. Management/change of antiplatelet and anticoagulant therapy during follow-up periods were also up to physicians’ discretion. Results: Baseline characteristics were not different between High-risk and Low-risk group except for age. Overall incidence of major bleeding was observed in 8 cases (12.1%) at 3 years follow-up. Major bleeding event was significantly higher in High-risk group compared with Low-risk group (31.6% vs. 4.3%, p=0.002). However, management of DAPT and TT was not different between the 2 groups. Among component of HAS-BLED score, renal dysfunction and bleeding contributed with increased number of the score. Conclusion: High-risk group was more frequently observed major bleeding events compared with Low-risk group in patients with Af following DES implantation regardless of antiplatelet/anticoagulant therapy.

P9 Novel use of CHA2DS2VASC score to select patients to undergo repeat atrial fibrillation screening

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
W Sun ◽  
B P Y Yan
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Clinical Outcomes ◽  
Cross Validation ◽  
Risk Group ◽  
Curve Analysis ◽  
Low Risk ◽  
Decision Curve Analysis ◽  
Risk Patients

Abstract Background We have previously demonstrated unselected screening for atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients ≥65 years old in an out-patient setting yielded 1-2% new AF each time screen-negative patients underwent repeated screening at 12 to 18 month interval. Selection criteria to identify high-risk patients for repeated AF screening may be more efficient than repeat screening on all patients. Aims This study aimed to validate CHA2DS2VASC score as a predictive model to select target population for repeat AF screening. Methods 17,745 consecutive patients underwent 24,363 index AF screening (26.9% patients underwent repeated screening) using a handheld single-lead ECG (AliveCor) from Dec 2014 to Dec 2017 (NCT02409654). Adverse clinical outcomes to be predicted included (i) new AF detection by repeated screening; (ii) new AF clinically diagnosed during follow-up and (ii) ischemic stroke/transient ischemic attack (TIA) during follow-up. Performance evaluation and validation of CHA2DS2VASC score as a prediction model was based on 15,732 subjects, 35,643 person-years of follow-up and 765 outcomes. Internal validation was conducted by method of k-fold cross-validation (k = n = 15,732, i.e., Leave-One-Out cross-validation). Performance measures included c-index for discriminatory ability and decision curve analysis for clinical utility. Risk groups were defined as ≤1, 2-3, or ≥4 for CHA2DS2VASC scores. Calibration was assessed by comparing proportions of actual observed events. Results CHA2DS2VASC scores achieved acceptable discrimination with c-index of 0.762 (95%CI: 0.746-0.777) for derivation and 0.703 for cross-validation. Decision curve analysis showed the use of CHA2DS2VASC to select patients for rescreening was superior to rescreening all or no patients in terms of net benefit across all reasonable threshold probability (Figure 1, left). Predicted and observed probabilities of adverse clinical outcomes progressively increased with increasing CHA2DS2VASC score (Figure 1, right): 0.7% outcome events in low-risk group (CHA2DS2VASC ≤1, predicted prob. ≤0.86%), 3.5% intermediate-risk group (CHA2DS2VASC 2-3, predicted prob. 2.62%-4.43%) and 11.3% in high-risk group (CHA2DS2VASC ≥4, predicted prob. ≥8.50%). The odds ratio for outcome events were 4.88 (95%CI: 3.43-6.96) for intermediate-versus-low risk group, and 17.37 (95%CI: 12.36-24.42) for high-versus-low risk group.  Conclusion Repeat AF screening on high-risk population may be more efficient than rescreening all screen-negative individuals. CHA2DS2VASC scores may be used as a selection tool to identify high-risk patients to undergo repeat AF screening. Abstract P9 Figure 1

Detection of atrial fibrillation in patients with embolic stroke of undetermined source by prolonged monitoring with implantable loop recorders

2017 ◽  
Vol 117 (10) ◽  
pp. 1962-1969 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carsten Israel ◽  
Alkisti Kitsiou ◽  
Malik Kalyani ◽  
Sameera Deelawar ◽  
Lucy Ekosso Ejangue ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Magnetic Resonance Tomography ◽  
Embolic Stroke ◽  
Secondary Stroke Prevention ◽  
Detection Algorithms ◽  
Therapeutic Consequences ◽  
Cerebral Microangiopathy ◽  
Implantable Loop Recorders ◽  
Work Up

SummaryRecently, the clinical entity embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) has been defined for patients with ischemic strokes, where neither a cardioembolic nor a non-cardiac source can be detected. These patients may suffer from asymptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF), terminating spontaneously and thus eluding detection. Implantable loop recorders (ILR) with automatic AF detection algorithms can detect short-lasting, subclinical AF. The aim of this study was to prospectively assess and predict AF detection in patients with ESUS using ILR with daily remote interrogation. Patients with acute ESUS received an ILR, were seen every 6 months and additionally interrogated their ILR daily using remote monitoring. The incidence of AF detection was assessed and parameters which might predict AF detection (clinical and from magnetic resonance tomography) were analysed. ILR implantation was performed in 123 patients on average 20 days after stroke. During a mean follow-up of 12.7±5.5 months, AF was documented and manually confirmed in 29 of 123 patients (23.6%). First AF detection occurred on average after 3.6±3.4 months of monitoring. Patients with AF were on average older, had a higher CHA2DS2-VASc score and more often cerebral microangiopathy. In conclusion, AF can be documented in approximately 25% of patients with the diagnosis of ESUS after careful work-up within a year of monitoring by an ILR and daily remote interrogation. This had important therapeutic consequences (initiation of anticoagulation for secondary stroke prevention) in these patients.

scholarly journals 122 Are We Effective Prescribers? A Retrospective Audit of DOAC Prescribing Post Embolic Stroke for Non Valvular Atrial Fibrillation

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. iii17-iii65
Author(s):  
Karen Dennehy ◽  
Joseph Morris ◽  
Diarmaid Hughes ◽  
Kate Donlon ◽  
Thomas Walsh
Keyword(s):  
Atrial Fibrillation ◽  
Renal Function ◽  
Oral Anticoagulants ◽  
Direct Oral Anticoagulants ◽  
Embolic Stroke ◽  
Haemorrhagic Transformation ◽  
Retrospective Audit ◽  
Online Laboratory ◽  
Number Of Patients

Abstract Background Direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) are indicated for stroke prophylaxis in non-valvular atrial fibrillation, which is responsible for up to 20% of all ischaemic strokes(1). We performed a retrospective audit of all consecutive stroke patients in an Irish teaching hospital over a 1-year period to investigate the rate of incorrect dosing and any risk factors for this occurring. Methods We assessed our hospital stroke database from January to December 2017. Our research focused on DOAC prescribing in non valvular atrial fibrillation post embolic stroke. We collected data on baseline characteristics, choice of anticoagulation, dosing, and assessment of renal function, with follow up renal function if available. We reviewed electronic discharge summaries, online laboratory systems and completed a chart review. Results There was a total of 116 people with atrial fibrillation who developed an embolic stroke in our centre, of which 68 were eligible for anticoagulation using a DOAC (59). The main reasons for omission were CKD and haemorrhagic transformation. Patients were discharged on either Apixaban (32 patients), Rivaroxoban (32 patients), or Dabigatran (4 patients). Following our review, we established that 54/68 (79%) of patients were correctly anticoagulated. Over 20% of patients were incorrectly dosed and there was a clear tendency to under-dose 13/14 (93%). There were significant differences between the correct and incorrect dosing groups, with the latter group of patients being older and more at risk of polypharmacy. Renal function did not differ significantly between the groups at discharge or follow up and none of the incorrectly dosed patients were on a concurrent anti platelet. Conclusion A significant number of patients prescribed DOAC in hospital were not appropriately anticoagulated (21%), a majority of which were under-dosed. The patients who were under-dosed were older and more likely to be on 5 or more medications.

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