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Doppler emboli signals vary according to stroke subtype
D G Grosset1, D Georgiadis, I Abdullah
1University Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Western Infirmary, Glasgow, UK.
Stroke
|February 1, 1994
Summary
Doppler ultrasound detects emboli signals in most acute stroke patients, except those with lacunar stroke. This finding supports Doppler
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Vascular Neurology
- Diagnostic Imaging
Background:
- Distinguishing embolic from thrombotic stroke is clinically important.
- Doppler ultrasound can detect emboli signals, with higher incidence in specific patient groups.
- Understanding the incidence of Doppler emboli across stroke etiologies is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of Doppler emboli signals in various etiologic subtypes of acute cerebral ischemia.
- To investigate the utility of Doppler emboli detection in classifying stroke subtypes.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study of 45 patients with first-ever acute carotid territory cerebral ischemia.
- Utilized Transcranial Doppler, carotid color duplex ultrasound, and echocardiography within 48 hours of symptom onset.
- Stroke etiology classified using established multicenter trial criteria, independent of emboli findings.
Main Results:
- Emboli signals detected in 71% (29/41) of patients with cerebral ischemia.
- No emboli signals were observed in patients with lacunar stroke (0/8).
- Significant differences in emboli signal counts across etiologic subgroups (P = .001); higher in large artery atherosclerosis.
Conclusions:
- Emboli signals are prevalent in acute stroke, excluding lacunar stroke.
- The absence of signals in lacunar stroke aligns with its small vessel disease etiology.
- Doppler emboli signal detection is a relevant tool for evaluating thromboembolic cerebrovascular disease.