Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 22, 2025

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance for the Evaluation of Suspected Cardiac Thrombus: Conventional and Emerging Techniques
06:29

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance for the Evaluation of Suspected Cardiac Thrombus: Conventional and Emerging Techniques

Published on: June 11, 2019

10.6K

Atrial Cardiomyopathy: An Emerging Cause of the Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source

Yuye Ning1, Gary Tse2,3, Guogang Luo1

  • 1Stroke Centre and Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.

Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine
|August 26, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) may stem from atrial cardiomyopathy, not just atrial fibrillation. Anticoagulant therapy might be more effective than antiplatelet drugs for ESUS patients with atrial cardiomyopathy.

Area of Science:

  • Neurology
  • Cardiology
  • Stroke Medicine

Background:

  • Nearly 30% of ischemic strokes are cryptogenic (CS), with many showing embolic features.
  • Embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) is a proposed classification for these CS patients.
  • Atrial cardiomyopathy can cause thrombus formation and embolic stroke, even without atrial fibrillation (AF).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the concepts of atrial cardiomyopathy and ESUS.
  • To explore the relationship between atrial cardiomyopathy and ESUS.
  • To provide a theoretical basis for using anticoagulant therapy in ESUS patients with atrial cardiomyopathy.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of mechanisms and clinical evidence.
  • Discussion of the link between atrial cardiomyopathy and ESUS.
  • Theoretical analysis of therapeutic implications.

Main Results:

  • Atrial cardiomyopathy is a potential underlying mechanism for ESUS.
  • Evidence suggests a mechanistic link between atrial cardiomyopathy and ESUS.
  • Anticoagulant therapy may be more beneficial than antiplatelet therapy for ESUS patients with atrial cardiomyopathy.

Conclusions:

  • Atrial cardiomyopathy may explain a significant portion of ESUS cases.
  • Identifying atrial cardiomyopathy in ESUS patients could refine treatment strategies.
  • This understanding may improve the clinical management and risk assessment of ESUS patients.

Keywords:
atrial cardiomyopathycardiac rhythm abnormalitiesembolic stroke of undetermined sourcerisk stratificationstructural heart disease

More Related Videos

Echocardiographic Evaluation of Atrial Communications before Transcatheter Closure07:41

Echocardiographic Evaluation of Atrial Communications before Transcatheter Closure

Published on: February 8, 2022

3.9K
Estimating Bilateral Atrial Function by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Feature Tracking in Patients with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation08:10

Estimating Bilateral Atrial Function by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Feature Tracking in Patients with Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation

Published on: July 20, 2022

1.9K

Related Concept Videos

Pulmonary Embolism I: Introduction01:29

Pulmonary Embolism I: Introduction

Pulmonary embolism (PE) occurs when a thrombus, fat or air embolus, amniotic fluid, or tumor tissue blocks one or more pulmonary arteries. These blockages originate in the venous system or the right side of the heart.EtiologyPE primarily arises from deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and other hypercoagulable states, such as inherited thrombophilias. Additional etiological factors include venous stasis, commonly seen in obesity, and endothelial injury from surgery and trauma. Less common causes include...
193
Cardiomyopathy I: Introduction and Classification01:25

Cardiomyopathy I: Introduction and Classification

Cardiomyopathy, or CMP, is a group of diseases affecting the myocardial structure, impairing its ability to pump blood effectively. This condition can lead to arrhythmias, heart failure, or sudden cardiac death.Cardiomyopathies are classified into primary and secondary categories:Primary Cardiomyopathy refers to conditions involving only the heart muscle that are often idiopathic (of unknown cause) or genetic. They primarily affect the myocardium without the involvement of other systemic...
131
Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy01:29

Cardiomyopathy III: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, or HCM, is an autosomal dominant genetic disorder characterized by asymmetric left ventricular hypertrophy without ventricular dilation. It is more common in men and is typically diagnosed in young, athletic adults.EtiologyHCM is primarily genetic and is caused by mutations in genes encoding sarcomeric proteins. Researchers have identified over 1400 mutations across at least 11 different genes. Among these, the most frequently occurring mutations are found in the...
97
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...
208
Cardiomyopathy IV: Restrictive Cardiomyopathy01:29

Cardiomyopathy IV: Restrictive Cardiomyopathy

Restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) is a rare heart muscle disease characterized by impaired ventricular filling due to stiffened ventricular walls, leading to significant diastolic dysfunction.EtiologyRestrictive cardiomyopathy can arise from both inherited and acquired diseases, many of which are systemic. It is categorized into four main types: infiltrative, storage, non-infiltrative, and endomyocardial diseases.Infiltrative diseases, such as amyloidosis, lead to RCM by depositing amyloid...
121
Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies01:22

Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies

The key clinical manifestations of Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) include several distinct cardiac symptoms.Carditis, a hallmark of acute rheumatic fever, involves inflammation of the heart's endocardium, myocardium, and pericardium. Chronic RHD often results from recurrent episodes of carditis. Its symptoms include the following:Murmurs are caused by valvular damage, especially to the mitral and aortic valves. Mitral stenosis or regurgitation is common, with characteristic heart murmurs...
133