Embolic strokes of undetermined source in the Athens stroke registry: a descriptive analysis.
- Ntaios G From the Department of Medicine, Larissa University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece (G.N., V.P., K.M.); Department of Medicine, Ioannina University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece (H.M.); Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Medical School of Athens, Alexandra Hospital, Athens, Greece (E.M., K.V.); Department of Neurology, Eginition Hospital, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece (K.S.); and Stroke Center, Neurology Service, CHUV, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland (P.M.). gntaios@med.uth.gr.
- Papavasileiou V From the Department of Medicine, Larissa University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece (G.N., V.P., K.M.); Department of Medicine, Ioannina University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece (H.M.); Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Medical School of Athens, Alexandra Hospital, Athens, Greece (E.M., K.V.); Department of Neurology, Eginition Hospital, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece (K.S.); and Stroke Center, Neurology Service, CHUV, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland (P.M.).
- Milionis H From the Department of Medicine, Larissa University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece (G.N., V.P., K.M.); Department of Medicine, Ioannina University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece (H.M.); Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Medical School of Athens, Alexandra Hospital, Athens, Greece (E.M., K.V.); Department of Neurology, Eginition Hospital, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece (K.S.); and Stroke Center, Neurology Service, CHUV, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland (P.M.).
- Makaritsis K From the Department of Medicine, Larissa University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece (G.N., V.P., K.M.); Department of Medicine, Ioannina University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece (H.M.); Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Medical School of Athens, Alexandra Hospital, Athens, Greece (E.M., K.V.); Department of Neurology, Eginition Hospital, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece (K.S.); and Stroke Center, Neurology Service, CHUV, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland (P.M.).
- Manios E From the Department of Medicine, Larissa University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece (G.N., V.P., K.M.); Department of Medicine, Ioannina University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece (H.M.); Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Medical School of Athens, Alexandra Hospital, Athens, Greece (E.M., K.V.); Department of Neurology, Eginition Hospital, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece (K.S.); and Stroke Center, Neurology Service, CHUV, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland (P.M.).
- Spengos K From the Department of Medicine, Larissa University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece (G.N., V.P., K.M.); Department of Medicine, Ioannina University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece (H.M.); Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Medical School of Athens, Alexandra Hospital, Athens, Greece (E.M., K.V.); Department of Neurology, Eginition Hospital, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece (K.S.); and Stroke Center, Neurology Service, CHUV, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland (P.M.).
- Michel P From the Department of Medicine, Larissa University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece (G.N., V.P., K.M.); Department of Medicine, Ioannina University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece (H.M.); Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Medical School of Athens, Alexandra Hospital, Athens, Greece (E.M., K.V.); Department of Neurology, Eginition Hospital, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece (K.S.); and Stroke Center, Neurology Service, CHUV, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland (P.M.).
- Vemmos K From the Department of Medicine, Larissa University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece (G.N., V.P., K.M.); Department of Medicine, Ioannina University Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece (H.M.); Department of Clinical Therapeutics, Medical School of Athens, Alexandra Hospital, Athens, Greece (E.M., K.V.); Department of Neurology, Eginition Hospital, University of Athens Medical School, Athens, Greece (K.S.); and Stroke Center, Neurology Service, CHUV, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland (P.M.).
- 2014-11-08
Published in:
- Stroke. - 2015
ESUS
covert atrial fibrillation
cryptogenic
embolic stroke of undetermined cause
embolism
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Atrial Fibrillation
Brain Infarction
Cohort Studies
Dyslipidemias
Electrocardiography
Female
Greece
Humans
Hypertension
Intracranial Embolism
Male
Middle Aged
Prospective Studies
Registries
Risk Factors
Stroke
English
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
A new clinical construct termed embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) was recently introduced, but no such population has been described yet. Our aim is to provide a detailed descriptive analysis of an ESUS population derived from a large prospective ischemic stroke registry using the proposed diagnostic criteria.
METHODS
The criteria proposed by the Cryptogenic Stroke/ESUS International Working Group were applied to the Athens Stroke Registry to identify all ESUS patients. ESUS was defined as a radiologically confirmed nonlacunar brain infarct in the absence of (a) extracranial or intracranial atherosclerosis causing ≥50% luminal stenosis in arteries supplying the ischemic area, (b) major-risk cardioembolic source, and (c) any other specific cause of stroke.
RESULTS
Among 2735 patients admitted between 1992 and 2011, 275 (10.0%) were classified as ESUS. In the majority of ESUS (74.2%), symptoms were maximal at onset. ESUS were of moderate severity (median National Institute Health Stroke Scale score, 5). The most prevalent risk factor was arterial hypertension (64.7%), and 50.9% of patients were dyslipidemic. Among potential causes of the ESUS, covert atrial fibrillation (AF) was the most prevalent: in 30 (10.9%) patients, AF was diagnosed during hospitalization for stroke recurrence, whereas in 50 (18.2%) patients AF was detected after repeated ECG monitoring during follow-up. Also, covert AF was strongly suggested in 38 patients (13.8%) but never recorded.
CONCLUSIONS
About 10% of patients with first-ever ischemic stroke met criteria for ESUS; covert paroxysmal AF seems to be a frequent cause of ESUS.
A new clinical construct termed embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) was recently introduced, but no such population has been described yet. Our aim is to provide a detailed descriptive analysis of an ESUS population derived from a large prospective ischemic stroke registry using the proposed diagnostic criteria.
METHODS
The criteria proposed by the Cryptogenic Stroke/ESUS International Working Group were applied to the Athens Stroke Registry to identify all ESUS patients. ESUS was defined as a radiologically confirmed nonlacunar brain infarct in the absence of (a) extracranial or intracranial atherosclerosis causing ≥50% luminal stenosis in arteries supplying the ischemic area, (b) major-risk cardioembolic source, and (c) any other specific cause of stroke.
RESULTS
Among 2735 patients admitted between 1992 and 2011, 275 (10.0%) were classified as ESUS. In the majority of ESUS (74.2%), symptoms were maximal at onset. ESUS were of moderate severity (median National Institute Health Stroke Scale score, 5). The most prevalent risk factor was arterial hypertension (64.7%), and 50.9% of patients were dyslipidemic. Among potential causes of the ESUS, covert atrial fibrillation (AF) was the most prevalent: in 30 (10.9%) patients, AF was diagnosed during hospitalization for stroke recurrence, whereas in 50 (18.2%) patients AF was detected after repeated ECG monitoring during follow-up. Also, covert AF was strongly suggested in 38 patients (13.8%) but never recorded.
CONCLUSIONS
About 10% of patients with first-ever ischemic stroke met criteria for ESUS; covert paroxysmal AF seems to be a frequent cause of ESUS.
- Language
-
- English
- Open access status
- bronze
- Identifiers
-
- DOI 10.1161/STROKEAHA.114.007240
- PMID 25378429
- Persistent URL
- https://roar.hep-bejune.ch/global/documents/106092
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