Clinical features, risk factors and survival in cardiac myxoma-related ischemic stroke: A multicenter case-control study

Abstract

BackgroundCardiac myxoma (CM) is an important etiology of stroke in young adults, but studies on CM-related ischemic stroke (CM-IS) are limited and conflicting. Hence, we investigated clinical characterizations, risk factors of CM-IS, and short-term survival after surgical resection. MethodsWe performed a retrospective analysis of data from all CM patients at three referral management centers and conducted follow-up examination. ResultsAmong 414 CM patients, 402 were recruited for further analysis, including 54 patients with CM-IS and 348 patients with CM without stroke (Non-stroke). In the acute phase, patients presented with NIHSS 3 (interquartile range: 0–10) and clinical presentation comprising neurological, cardiac and constitutional symptoms. Multivariate analysis showed that the factors associated with an increased risk of CM-IS were tumor width < 30 mm [OR = 2.652, 95% CI: 1.061–6.627, P = 0.037], tumors with high-mobility (OR = 2.700, 95% CI: 1.357–5.371, P = 0.005), thrombus on the tumor surface (OR = 1.856, 95% CI: 1.003–3.434, P = 0.049), and lower B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels (OR = 0.995, 95% CI: 0.989–0.999, P = 0.047). The overall three-year survival rate was 95.7% (95% CI: 94.9–96.5) in CM-IS patients who underwent surgery. ConclusionsCM-IS patients had mild or moderate neurologic deficits with various presentations at disease onset. Narrower tumor width, tumors with high-mobility, thrombus on the tumor surface, and lower BNP levels are potential predictors of CM-IS development. Surgical removal of CM is safe and efficacious in patients with CM-IS.