Ischemic Stroke Mandates Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration

Abstract

The fields of cardiology and stroke medicine encompass the 2 most important vascular territories impacted by disease, those involving the heart and brain. The 2 disciplines share many important commonalities, and the most important overlap between cardiology and stroke medicine involves ischemic heart disease and ischemic stroke. Commonalities between these 2 frequently encountered disorders include involvement of physicians and researchers with a wide range of training backgrounds and skill sets, similar epidemiological bases and risk factors, overlapping pathophysiological mechanisms, and similar approaches to acute therapy and to primary and secondary prevention. In addition, ischemic stroke from a cardiac or aortic source has been increasingly identified.1 Clinicians and researchers from each discipline need to be aware of advances in both fields to optimize patient care and research. Circulation and Stroke , leading journals in their respective fields, endeavor to promote this effort and to foster cooperation between clinicians and researchers from both disciplines. Two commonly encountered cardiovascular disorders that illustrate the overlap between cardiology and stroke medicine are patent foramen ovale (PFO)–related stroke and primary/secondary stroke prevention in patients with atrial fibrillation. PFOs exist in ≈20% to 25% of the population, occurring more frequently in women than men.2 In a stroke patient with a PFO in whom all other potential causes have been excluded, the PFO becomes the presumed culprit of the infarct. Both cardiologists and stroke physicians frequently encounter such patients, and until recently the best approach for …