Evidence of subtle left ventricular systolic dysfunction in cryptogenic stroke in the young

Ischemic stroke in young patients often remains cryptogenic, that is, no underlying reason can be found. Some of these strokes may originate in the heart. Left ventricular (LV) dynamic volumetry and strain analysis are relatively new and promising methods for evaluating LV function.

In this pilot study, we recruited 30 young (18-50 years) patients with cryptogenic ischemic stroke and 30 age- and sex-matched controls from the SECRETO study (NCT01934725). The LV systolic function was assessed by LV volumetry (ejection fraction, peak emptying rate, and time to peak emptying rate). The longitudinal systolic function was assessed by speckle tracking strain and strain rate imaging, and by tissue velocity imaging derived MAD (mitral annular displacement) and septal S'.

Stroke patients had less vigorous global longitudinal strain (median -18.9, interquartile range 3.3), compared to healthy controls (median -20.0, interquartile range 2.8), P = .010. There was no statistically significant differences in septal S', MAD, global longitudinal strain rate, or dynamic volumetry-derived parameters between the two groups.

Young cryptogenic stroke patients have subtly altered systolic function compared to healthy controls, found merely with longitudinal strain analysis. This infers that the heart may play a role in the pathogenesis of cryptogenic ischemic stroke.