Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 1, 2026

Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation
28:13

Catheter Ablation in Combination With Left Atrial Appendage Closure for Atrial Fibrillation

Published on: February 26, 2013

34.1K

Electrocardiographic Predictors of Silent Atrial Fibrillation in Cryptogenic Stroke

Maurizio Acampa1, Pietro Enea Lazzerini2, Francesca Guideri1

  • 1Stroke Unit, Department of Neurological and Neurosensorial Sciences, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, "Santa Maria alle Scotte" General Hospital, Siena, Italy.

Heart, Lung & Circulation
|December 12, 2018
PubMed

Insights

High P-wave dispersion and abnormal P-wave axis on ECG predict atrial fibrillation (AF) in cryptogenic stroke (CS) patients. These electrocardiographic markers help identify individuals at increased risk for developing AF after stroke.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Neurology
  • Medical Diagnostics

Background:

  • Prolonged screening for atrial fibrillation (AF) is recommended post-cryptogenic stroke (CS).
  • Electrocardiographic markers of atrial cardiopathy are explored to identify high-risk patients for AF.
  • Identifying AF is crucial for stroke management and prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the relationship between electrocardiographic parameters and in-hospital AF occurrence after acute CS.
  • To identify predictors of AF in patients with CS.
  • To assess the utility of ECG markers for AF risk stratification.

Main Methods:

  • 222 patients with CS underwent 12-lead resting ECG and 7-day in-hospital monitoring.
  • Evaluated ECG parameters included P-wave duration, dispersion (PWD), index, axis, and atrial size.
  • Logistic regression analysis identified predictors of AF occurrence.

Main Results:

  • AF was detected in 44 patients.
  • Patients with AF showed significantly higher PWD, P-wave index, PR interval, and abnormal P-wave axis.
  • Independent predictors for AF included age, PWD, and abnormal P-wave axis.

Conclusions:

  • High P-wave dispersion (PWD) and abnormal P-wave axis are independent predictors of AF in CS.
  • These ECG findings are valuable tools for identifying high-risk patients for AF after CS.
  • Early identification can guide further monitoring and management strategies.
Abstract

Keywords:
Atrial fibrillationCryptogenic strokeP wave axisP wave dispersionP wave index

More Related Videos

The WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Atrial Fibrillation23:33

The WATCHMAN Left Atrial Appendage Closure Device for Atrial Fibrillation

Published on: February 28, 2012

84.5K
Transesophageal Atrial Burst Pacing for Atrial Fibrillation Induction in Rats05:12

Transesophageal Atrial Burst Pacing for Atrial Fibrillation Induction in Rats

Published on: February 14, 2022

3.8K

Related Concept Videos

Amyloid Fibrils03:03

Amyloid Fibrils

Amyloid fibrils are aggregates of misfolded proteins.  Under most circumstances, misfolded proteins are either refolded by chaperone proteins or degraded by the proteasome. However, in the case of a mutation or a disease, these proteins can accumulate to form large clusters and often further assemble to form elongated fibers, called fibrils. 
Amyloid deposits were observed as early as 1639 in the liver and the spleen.   In 1854, Rudolph Virchow performed iodine staining,...
11.9K
Amyloid Fibrils03:03

Amyloid Fibrils

6.4K
Fibril-associated Collagen01:11

Fibril-associated Collagen

Fibril-associated collagens are a type of collagens present in the extracellular matrix with interrupted triple helices or FACIT (Fibril-associated collagens interrupted triple-helices). FACIT help connect and attach the collagen fibrils with each other as well as with other proteins of the extracellular matrix.
For example, the type II collagen fibrils in cartilage have covalently bound type IX fibril-associated collagens at regular intervals. Other types of fibril-associated collagens are...
3.4K
Regulation of Stroke Volume01:27

Regulation of Stroke Volume

The regulation of stroke volume, which is the amount of blood the heart pumps out during each heartbeat, is critical for maintaining a healthy circulatory system. Stroke volume is influenced by three main factors: preload, contractility, and afterload.
Preload refers to the degree of stretch on the heart before it contracts. It's analogous to the stretching of a rubber band; the more it's stretched, the more forcefully it snaps back. This concept is encapsulated in the Frank-Starling law of the...
5.2K
ECG Interpretation of Arrhythmias II: Atrial, Junctional and Ventricular Arrhythmias01:25

ECG Interpretation of Arrhythmias II: Atrial, Junctional and Ventricular Arrhythmias

Arrhythmia is a condition characterized by an irregular heart rhythm, with ECG changes that differ based on its origin and nature. The types of arrhythmias discussed below include atrial, junctional, and ventricular arrhythmias.Atrial ArrhythmiasPremature Atrial Complexes (PACs): PACs are early atrial beats caused by stress, caffeine, alcohol, electrolyte imbalances, hypoxia, hyperthyroidism, or certain medications (e.g., bronchodilators and decongestants). The ECG shows early P waves with an...
564
Cardiac Output and Stroke Volume01:11

Cardiac Output and Stroke Volume

Cardiac output (CO) is an integral aspect of human physiology, reflecting the heart's efficiency and responsiveness to the body's needs. It represents the volume of blood that the left or right ventricle ejects into the aorta or pulmonary trunk each minute. The CO is calculated by multiplying the heart rate (HR)—the number of heartbeats per minute—by the stroke volume (SV)—the amount of blood pumped out with each heartbeat.
In an average resting adult male, the typical cardiac...
4.9K