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[Two-dimensional echocardiography in 100 cases of unexplained cerebral ischemic complications]
A Rosa1, K Masmoudi, D Barbieux
1Centre hospitalier universitaire Nord, Service de Neurologie, Amiens.
Insights
Two-dimensional echocardiography can identify heart abnormalities causing embolic stroke in patients with unexplained cerebral ischaemic events. Mitral valve prolapse was the most common finding, suggesting it as a frequent source of emboli.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Neurology
- Medical Imaging
Context:
- Cerebral ischaemic events often have unclear causes.
- Identifying embolic sources is crucial for stroke prevention.
- Two-dimensional echocardiography is a key diagnostic tool.
Purpose:
- To investigate the utility of two-dimensional echocardiography in patients with unexplained cerebral ischaemic events.
- To determine the prevalence of cardiac abnormalities as embolic sources.
- To identify the most frequent cardiopathy associated with embolic stroke.
Summary:
- One hundred patients with unexplained cerebral ischaemic events underwent two-dimensional echocardiography.
- Thirty-nine patients (39%) had cardiac abnormalities linked to embolic stroke.
- Mitral valve prolapse was the most common abnormality (38.5% of those with findings).
Impact:
- Two-dimensional echocardiography should be standard for evaluating unexplained cerebral ischaemic events.
- Mitral valve prolapse is a significant, frequently identified source of emboli.
- Findings aid in targeted stroke prevention strategies.
Abstract:
One-hundred patients with unexplained cerebral ischaemic events were explored by two-dimensional echocardiography. Thirty-nine patients showed abnormalities considered causative of embolic stroke. The most frequent cardiopathy found was mitral valve prolapse (38.5 per cent). This study suggests that unexplained cerebral ischaemic events should be evaluated by two-dimensional echocardiography and that the most frequent source of emboli to be expected is mitral valve prolapse.