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Association between mitral annular calcification and stroke.
Ayşe Tunca1, Aydin Karanfil, Asli Köktener
1Department of Neurology, Fatih University Medical School, Ankara, Turkey.
Japanese Heart Journal
|January 19, 2005
Summary
Mitral annular calcification (MAC) is associated with carotid artery atherosclerosis, a secondary risk factor for stroke. This finding suggests MAC may not directly cause stroke but contributes to stroke risk through arterial disease.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Neurology
- Radiology
Background:
- Mitral annular calcification (MAC) is a debated independent predictor of stroke.
- Understanding the relationship between MAC and stroke is crucial for risk stratification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between MAC and stroke.
- To determine if MAC is a predictive factor for carotid atheroma, thus a secondary stroke risk.
Main Methods:
- Echocardiography to identify MAC in 56 patients.
- Carotid artery duplex sonography and computed brain tomography in MAC patients and 58 controls.
- Analysis of MAC, carotid atheroma, stenosis, and cerebral ischemia.
Main Results:
- Significant associations found between MAC and carotid atheroma (P=0.011), hyperechogenic plaque (P=0.034), and stenosis (P=0.008).
- Carotid atheroma was associated with cerebral infarction (P=0.007).
- Hypertension and diabetes were independent risk factors for carotid atheroma; MAC was an independent factor for carotid stenosis (P=0.029).
Conclusions:
- MAC may be a secondary, not a primary, risk factor for stroke.
- The association between MAC and carotid artery atherosclerotic disease may explain the high stroke prevalence in MAC patients.