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Atrial Septal Abnormalities and Cryptogenic Stroke: A Cross-Sectional Study
Marzieh Aliramezany1, Mansoor Moazenzadeh2, Amin Sayyadi1
1Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran.
Insights
Atrial septal abnormalities, including patent foramen ovale, are common in cryptogenic stroke patients. Early detection and treatment of these conditions are crucial for preventing neurological events, especially in younger individuals.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Neurology
- Medical Diagnostics
Background:
- Cryptogenic stroke accounts for 30-40% of ischemic strokes, with unknown pathology.
- Existing studies show conflicting results regarding atrial septal abnormalities and cryptogenic stroke.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of atrial septal abnormalities in patients diagnosed with cryptogenic stroke.
- To investigate the association between atrial septal abnormalities and patient demographics.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 91 patients with cryptogenic stroke or transient ischemic attack.
- Echocardiography was used to identify and classify atrial septal abnormalities.
- Demographic data and neurological attack history were collected.
Main Results:
- 17.5% of patients had patent foramen ovale; 1.1% had atrial septal aneurysm; 1.1% had an atrial septal defect.
- Patients with patent foramen ovale were significantly younger.
- Patent foramen ovale size did not significantly correlate with stroke type or demographic variables.
Conclusions:
- Atrial septal abnormalities are relatively prevalent in cryptogenic stroke.
- Screening for atrial septal disorders is recommended for stroke patients, particularly younger individuals.
- Prompt treatment of diagnosed atrial septal abnormalities is advised to prevent further neurological events.
Background:
Cryptogenic stroke, whose underlying pathology is unknown, accounts for 30-40% of all ischemic strokes. Studies have mentioned the association between atrial septal abnormalities and cryptogenic stroke, but there are still disparities in the results among different studies.
Objective:
We aimed to clarify the prevalence of atrial septal abnormalities in patients with cryptogenic stroke.
Methods:
We conducted a cross-sectional study on 91 patients with cryptogenic stroke/transient ischemic attack from March 2021 to March 2022. We evaluated the demographic data of the patients and also the existence of neurologic attacks. Furthermore, echocardiography was performed to determine the type of atrial septal abnormality.
Results:
Out of 91 patients with cryptogenic stroke/transient ischemic attack, 16 patients (17.5%) had patent foramen ovale, 1 man (1.1%) had atrial septal aneurysm, and 1 woman (1.1%) had an atrial septal defect. Patients with patent foramen ovale were significantly younger than those without. The size of patent foramen ovale in patients with cryptogenic stroke was larger than those with transient ischemic attack, but this difference was not significant. Also, the size of the patent foramen ovale (length and width) was not significantly related to any of the demographic variables (p-value = 0.544, 0.604).
Conclusion:
Based on our results, the prevalence of atrial septal abnormalities was relatively high. Considering these issues and the importance of preventing neurological accidents in patients, especially young people, it is recommended to always consider atrial septal disorders and, if diagnosed, to carry out the necessary treatment in this field.
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