Study of Embolic Cerebral Stroke in Atrial Fibrillation Patients. Severity, Recurrence and Outcome

Abstract

Background: Patients with AF and concomitant potential cardiac sources of embolism increase the risk of recurrent embolism despite anticoagulation. Objectives: The aim of this study was to study different cardiac sources of embolism in stroke patients with AF and was to study if the presence of concomitant cardiac sources of embolism in AF stroke patients has impact on stroke severity, recurrence, response to treatment & outcome. Patients and methods: The study was a prospective clinical study that was conducted on 60 patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Menoufia University Hospitals.The patients were divided into 2 groups: Group I: Patients with concomitant cardiac sources of embolism. Group II: Patients without concomitant cardiac sources of embolism. Results: There was significant difference found between the two groups regarding recurrence (P=0.045). We found that Elders, diabetics, patients with dyslipidemia, patients with CVD, severe National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score patients and big infarction size were significantly associated with poor stroke outcome. Conclusion: In conclusion, we found that most of the recurrent ischemic strokes were associated with elders, diabetics, patients with dyslipidemia, patients with CVD, severe NIHSS score patients and big infarction size.