Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- List of contributors
- Section I Etiology, pathophysiology and imaging
- Section II Clinical epidemiology and risk factors
- 5 Basic epidemiology of stroke and risk assessment
- 6 Common risk factors and prevention
- 7 Cardiac diseases relevant to stroke
- Section III Diagnostics and syndromes
- Section IV Therapeutic strategies and neurorehabilitation
- Index
- References
7 - Cardiac diseases relevant to stroke
from Section II - Clinical epidemiology and risk factors
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 May 2010
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface
- List of contributors
- Section I Etiology, pathophysiology and imaging
- Section II Clinical epidemiology and risk factors
- 5 Basic epidemiology of stroke and risk assessment
- 6 Common risk factors and prevention
- 7 Cardiac diseases relevant to stroke
- Section III Diagnostics and syndromes
- Section IV Therapeutic strategies and neurorehabilitation
- Index
- References
Summary
Introduction
Cardiac diseases can be relevant to stroke in different respects:
In embolic stroke, cardiac diseases may be the cause of embolism, such as atrial fibrillation (AF), endocarditis, left ventricular aneurysm or left ventricular hypertrabeculation/non-compaction (LVHT).
Brady- and tachyarrhythmias may compromise cerebral blood flow.
Cardiac diseases may coexist, and influence the clinical course and rehabilitation, such as coronary heart disease or dilatative cardiomyopathy (dCMP).
In some instances, cardiac diseases may be the consequence of the stroke, such as stroke-induced transient left ventricular dysfunction, also referred to as Takotsubo syndrome (TTS).
Congenital abnormalities such as patent foramen ovale (PFO) or atrial septal aneurysm (ASA) may implicate paradoxical embolism.
Several diseases may coexist in a single patient, such as coronary heart disease and AF. Thus, from a pragmatic point of view, this chapter aims to focus on the most frequent and controversially discussed cardiac abnormalities in stroke patients.
Rhythm disturbances
Atrial fibrillation
AF is a cardiac arrhythmia, defined by the absence of P waves and varying RR distances in the electrocardiogram. AF is a common arrhythmia and its prevalence increases with age up to 9% at age 80–89 years (Figure 7.1). Approximately 85% of the individuals with AF are between 65 and 85 years of age [1].
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Textbook of Stroke Medicine , pp. 105 - 120Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2009