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[Arrhythmia in patients with cerebral infarction evaluated by Holter ECG]
Insights
This study found no significant difference in ventricular premature contractions (VPCs) in patients with cerebral infarction across different stages or CT findings. Arrhythmia detection via Holter ECG revealed no clear link between VPCs and stroke type.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Neurology
- Medical Imaging
Context:
- Cerebral infarction (stroke) is a leading cause of disability.
- Arrhythmias are common in stroke patients, but their relationship with stroke type is not fully understood.
- Holter electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring is a standard tool for detecting cardiac arrhythmias.
Purpose:
- To investigate the relationship between arrhythmias and different types of cerebral infarction.
- To compare the incidence of ventricular premature contractions (VPCs) in acute and chronic stroke stages.
- To determine if CT-defined stroke characteristics correlate with arrhythmia burden.
Summary:
- 111 patients with cerebral infarction underwent 24-hour Holter ECG monitoring.
- Patients were categorized based on CT scan findings (large cortical, small basal ganglia, or no low-density area).
- No significant differences in total VPCs were observed between pre-onset, acute, and chronic stages, nor were correlations found with age, hypertension, or stroke type.
Impact:
- This study suggests that routine Holter monitoring may not reveal significant differences in VPCs related to stroke type or stage.
- Findings indicate a lack of direct correlation between specific CT-defined cerebral infarction characteristics and arrhythmia burden.
- Further research may be needed to explore other potential arrhythmia-stroke type associations.
Abstract:
In the present study, Holter ECG (24 hours continuous monitoring) was applied for detection of arrhythmia in patients with cerebral infarction to elucidate the relationship between arrhythmias and types of cerebral infarction. The subjects were 111 patients (80 males and 31 females) with cerebral infarction who were admitted to our institution during the acute stage. Their average age was 65.4 years old. They were divided into the following three groups: Group L; patients having a large low density area on CT including the cortex, group S; those having a small low density area in the basal ganglia, and group N; those having no low density area on CT. Holter ECG was taken at least three weeks after onset in all cases. Fourteen of them were also examined in the acute stage, and these findings were compared with those taken in the chronic stage. Three Holter ECGs recorded incidentally before the onset of stroke were used for comparison. Based on the basic rhythms recorded on the Holter ECG, the subjects were divided into sinus rhythm and atrial fibrillation cases. The total number of ventricular premature contractions (VPCs), were determined in each case. There was little difference in the number of total VPCs among the records taken in the pre-onset, acute and chronic stages. There also was no relation between the total number of VPCs and the age, history of hypertension, and the site of infarction on CT. There was no consistent relationship between the total number of VPCs in cases with atrial fibrillation and CT findings.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)