RationaleOptimal secondary prevention of embolic stroke of undetermined source is not established. The current standard in these patients is acetylsalicylic acid, despite high prevalence of yet undetected paroxysmal atrial fibrillation.AimThe ATTICUS randomized trial is designed to determine whether the factor Xa inhibitor apixaban administered within 7 days after embolic stroke of undetermined source, is superior to acetylsalicylic acid for prevention of new ischemic lesions documented by brain magnetic resonance imaging within 12 months after index stroke.DesignProspective, randomized, blinded, parallel-group, open-label, German multicenter phase III trial in approximately 500 patients with embolic stroke of undetermined source. A key inclusion criterion is the presence or the planned implantation of an insertable cardiac monitor. Patients are 1:1 randomized to apixaban or acetylsalicylic acid and treated for a 12-month period. It is an event-driven trial aiming for core-lab adjudicated primary outcome ...
Background and purpose Recently, the CRYSTAL AF trial detected paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) in 12.4% of patients after cryptogenic ischaemic stroke (IS) or cryptogenic transient ischaemic attack (TIA) by an insertable cardiac monitor (ICM) within 1 year of monitoring. Our aim was (i) to assess if an AF risk factor based pre-selection of ICM candidates would enhance the rate of AF detection and (ii) to determine AF risk factors with significant predictive value for AF detection. Methods Se...
#2J. Donald Easton(UCSF: University of California, San Francisco)H-Index: 45
Last. Ralph L. Sacco(UM: University of Miami)H-Index: 157
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RationaleCryptogenic ischemic strokes constitute 20–30% of ischemic strokes, the majority of which are embolic strokes of undetermined source. The standard preventive treatment in these patients is usually acetylsalicylic acid.AimThe Randomized, double-blind, Evaluation in secondary Stroke Prevention comparing the EfficaCy and safety of the oral Thrombin inhibitor dabigatran etexilate vs. acetylsalicylic acid in patients with Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source (RE-SPECT ESUS) is designed to d...
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Guidelines recommend screening stroke-survivors for cognitive impairments. We sought to collate published data on test accuracy of cognitive screening tools. METHODS: Index test was any direct, cognitive screening assessment compared against reference standard diagnosis of (undifferentiated) multidomain cognitive impairment/dementia. We used a sensitive search statement to search multiple, cross-disciplinary databases from inception to January 2014. Titles, abstracts, and...
Background Current guidelines recommend at least 24 hours of electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring after an ischemic stroke to rule out atrial fibrillation. However, the most effective duration and type of monitoring have not been established, and the cause of ischemic stroke remains uncertain despite a complete diagnostic evaluation in 20 to 40% of cases (cryptogenic stroke). Detection of atrial fibrillation after cryptogenic stroke has therapeutic implications. Methods We conducted a randomize...
BACKGROUND Atrial fibrillation is a leading preventable cause of recurrent stroke for which early detection and treatment are critical. However, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation is often asymptomatic and likely to go undetected and untreated in the routine care of patients with ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). METHODS We randomly assigned 572 patients 55 years of age or older, without known atrial fibrillation, who had had a cryptogenic ischemic stroke or TIA within the previous...
Last. Stuart J. Connolly(Population Health Research Institute)H-Index: 140
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Summary Cryptogenic (of unknown cause) ischaemic strokes are now thought to comprise about 25% of all ischaemic strokes. Advances in imaging techniques and improved understanding of stroke pathophysiology have prompted a reassessment of cryptogenic stroke. There is persuasive evidence that most cryptogenic strokes are thromboembolic. The thrombus is thought to originate from any of several well established potential embolic sources, including minor-risk or covert cardiac sources, veins via parad...
#1Myung Jin Cha(Seoul National University Hospital)H-Index: 20
#2Hyo Eun Park(Seoul National University Hospital)H-Index: 19
Last. Seil Oh(Seoul National University Hospital)H-Index: 29
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Varied silent ischemic stroke (SS) prevalence occurs in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Stroke history is worth 2 points in the CHADS 2 scoring system. An unknown proportion of patients with AF with a CHADS 2 score of 0 or 1 have been undertreated for stroke prevention. We investigated SS risk factors using magnetic resonance imaging and estimated SS impact on clinical outcomes in patients with AF. We analyzed a total of 1,200 patients (400 with AF and 800 with sinus rhythm) who had brai...
Objectives The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of silent cerebral ischemia (SCI) and cognitive performance in patients with paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) and controls in sinus rhythm. Background Large registries have reported a similar risk for symptomatic stroke in both paroxysmal and persistent AF. The relationship among paroxysmal and persistent AF, SCI, and cognitive impairment has remained uncharted. Methods Two hundred seventy subjects were enrolled: 18...
#2Bruce Ovbiagele(UCSF: University of California, San Francisco)H-Index: 78
Last. Meng Lee(CGU: Chang Gung University)H-Index: 20
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Abstract null null Background null The best antithrombotic strategy for cryptogenic stroke with potential cardiac emboli is not known. The objective of this study was to conduct a meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral anticoagulants (OACs) vs. antiplatelet therapies in these patients null null null Methods null Pubmed, EMBASE, CENTRAL and clinicaltrials.gov were searched from January 1980 to April 2021 to identify trials comparing OACs versus antiplatelet therapies in patient...
We aimed to investigate whether prior exposure to antiplatelet therapy (anti-PLT) was associated with stroke incidence after the initiation of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapy. We conducted a population-based cohort study based on health records obtained from the National Health Insurance Service database in South Korea. Adult patients (aged ≥ 18 years) who underwent ECMO therapy in the intensive care unit during 2009–2018 were enrolled. In total, 17,237 patients who underwent ...
#1Irum D Kotadia('KCL': King's College London)H-Index: 1
#2Iain Sim('KCL': King's College London)H-Index: 4
Last. Steven Williams('KCL': King's College London)H-Index: 131
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Approximately one-third of ischemic strokes are classified as cryptogenic strokes. The risk of stroke recurrence in these patients is significantly elevated with up to one-third of patients with cryptogenic stroke experiencing a further stroke within 10 years. While anticoagulation is the mainstay of treatment for secondary stroke prevention in the context of documented atrial fibrillation (AF), it is estimated that up to 25% of patients with cryptogenic stroke have undiagnosed AF. Furthermore, ...
#1Dong-Seok Gwak(Kyungpook National University Hospital)
#2WooChan Choi(Kyungpook National University Hospital)
Last. Yang-Ha Hwang(Kyungpook National University Hospital)H-Index: 22
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Background: The left atrial appendage (LAA) is a major source of thrombus and non-chicken wing (CW). LAA morphology is a risk factor for embolic events in atrial fibrillation. However, the association of non-CW morphology with embolic stroke recurrence is unknown in patients with embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) and atrial cardiopathy. Methods: We conducted retrospective analyses using a prospective institutional stroke registry (2013-2017). Patients with ESUS and atrial cardiopathy ...
This expert opinion paper on cardiac imaging after acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) includes a statement of the "Heart and Brain" consortium of the German Cardiac Society and the German Stroke Society. The Stroke Unit-Commission of the German Stroke Society and the German Atrial Fibrillation NETwork (AFNET) endorsed this paper. Cardiac imaging is a key component of etiological work-up after stroke. Enhanced echocardiographic tools, constantly improving cardiac computer to...
Background: In the last years, several studies were conducted that evaluated biomarkers that could be helpful for cardioembolic stroke diagnosis, prognosis, and the determination of risk of stroke recurrence. Methods: We performed a narrative review of the main studies that evaluated biomarkers related to specific cardioembolic causes: atrial fibrillation, patent foramen ovale, atrial cardiomyopathy, and left ventricular wall motion abnormalities. Results: BNP and NT-proBNP are, among all biomar...
#1Kang-Ho Choi(Chonnam National University)H-Index: 17
#2Jahae Kim(Chonnam National University)H-Index: 13
Last. Ki-Hyun Cho(Chonnam National University)H-Index: 30
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Background and Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the value of d-dimer levels in predicting recurrent stroke in patients with embolic stroke of undetermined source. We also evaluated the unde...
