Journal of stroke and cerebrovascular diseases : the official journal of National Stroke Association
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J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis · Jul 2017
Association of Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia with Ischemic Stroke: A National Case-Control Study.
Cardioembolic stroke accounts for approximately 15%-20% of all ischemic strokes. Atrial fibrillation constitutes one-half to two-thirds of all cardioembolic stroke events. The association of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) with ischemic stroke remains unclear. A national case-control study was conducted to identify the risk factors, including PSVT, for ischemic stroke in Taiwan. ⋯ Our study is the first in Taiwan to identify PSVT as a significant risk factor for ischemic stroke. New antithrombotic regimens, including aspirin, can be recommended for the primary prevention of stroke and for reducing the burden of stroke for patients with PSVT.
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J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis · Jul 2017
Review Meta AnalysisThe Association between Carotid Artery Atherosclerosis and Silent Brain Infarction: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
Carotid atherosclerosis is responsible for ~20% of ischemic strokes, but it is unclear whether carotid disease is associated with the presence of downstream silent brain infarction (SBI). We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to study the relationship between SBI and 2 separate manifestations of carotid atherosclerosis, carotid intima-media thickening (IMT) and luminal stenosis. ⋯ Two forms of atherosclerotic disease, carotid IMT and stenosis, are both significantly associated with SBI. This review highlights a lack of consistent definitions for carotid disease measures and little evidence evaluating SBI prevalence downstream from carotid stenosis.
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J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis · Jul 2017
Validation of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale-8 to Detect Large Vessel Occlusion in Ischemic Stroke.
Patients with acute ischemic stroke and large vessel occlusion (LVO) may benefit from prehospital identification and transfer to a center offering endovascular therapy. ⋯ Accuracy of the NIHSS-8 to identify LVO in a population of patients with suspected acute stroke is comparable to existing prehospital stroke scales. The scale can be performed by EMS with reasonable reliability. Further validation in the field is needed to assess accuracy of the scale to identify patients with LVO eligible for endovascular treatment in a prehospital setting.
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J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis · Jul 2017
Case ReportsNeuroimaging of Takayasu Arteritis in a Patient with Ulcerative Rectocolitis.
Takayasu arteritis (TA), also known as aortoarteritis and pulseless disease, is an autoimmune, idiopathic, large-vessel vasculitis that primarily affects the aorta and its major branches, the coronary arteries, and the pulmonary arteries. ⋯ (1) TA has to be suspected in young woman with neck pain, even without neurological symptoms. (2) Magnetic resonance imaging and CDS can depict wall thickening and abnormal caliber in the involved vessels. (3) MRA and CDS are able to demonstrate rare but possible arteriovenous fistula in TA patients. (4) Rectocolitis therapy could be a trigger factor of wall vessel involvement.
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J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis · Jun 2017
Biomarkers of Atrial Cardiopathy and Atrial Fibrillation Detection on Mobile Outpatient Continuous Telemetry After Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source.
Biomarkers of atrial dysfunction or "cardiopathy" are associated with embolic stroke risk. However, it is unclear if this risk is mediated by undiagnosed paroxysmal atrial fibrillation or flutter (AF). We aim to determine whether atrial cardiopathy biomarkers predict AF on continuous heart-rhythm monitoring after embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS). ⋯ Atrial biomarkers were weakly associated with AF after ESUS. This suggests that previously reported associations between these markers and stroke may reflect independent cardiac pathways leading to stroke. Prospective studies are needed to investigate these mechanisms.