1
|
Khenkina N, Aimo A, Fabiani I, Masci PG, Sagris D, Williams SE, Mavraganis G, Chen HS, Wintermark M, Michel P, Ntaios G, Georgiopoulos G. Magnetic resonance imaging for diagnostic workup of embolic stroke of undetermined source: A systematic review. Int J Stroke 2024; 19:293-304. [PMID: 37435743 DOI: 10.1177/17474930231189946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) refers to ischemic stroke where the underlying cause of thromboembolism cannot be found despite the recommended diagnostic workup. Unidentified source of emboli hinders clinical decision-making and patient management with detrimental consequences on long-term prognosis. The rapid development and versatility of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) make it an appealing addition to the diagnostic routine of patients with ESUS for the assessment of potential vascular and cardiac embolic sources. AIMS To review the use of MRI in the identification of cardiac and vascular embolic sources in ESUS and to assess the reclassification value of MRI examinations added to the conventional workup of ESUS. SUMMARY OF REVIEW We reviewed the use of cardiac and vascular MRI for the identification of a variety of embolic sources associated with ESUS, including atrial cardiomyopathy, left ventricular pathologies, and supracervical atherosclerosis in carotid and intracranial arteries and in distal thoracic aorta. The additional reclassification after MRI examinations added to the workup of patients with ESUS ranged from 6.1% to 82.3% and varied depending on the combination of imaging modalities. CONCLUSION MRI techniques allow us to identify additional cardiac and vascular embolic sources and may further decrease the prevalence of patients with the diagnosis of ESUS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natallia Khenkina
- Postgraduate School of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Alberto Aimo
- Institute of Life Sciences, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy
- Cardiology Division, Fondazione Toscana Gabriele Monasterio, Pisa, Italy
| | - Iacopo Fabiani
- Cardiology Division, Fondazione Toscana Gabriele Monasterio, Pisa, Italy
| | - Pier Giorgio Masci
- School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Dimitrios Sagris
- Liverpool Centre of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | | | - George Mavraganis
- Department of Clinical Therapeutics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Hui-Sheng Chen
- Department of Neurology, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, China
| | - Max Wintermark
- Department of Radiology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Patrik Michel
- Stroke Center, Neurology Service, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - George Ntaios
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | - Georgios Georgiopoulos
- School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
- Department of Clinical Therapeutics, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Fonseca AC. Stroke and Recent Myocardial Infarction, Reduced Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction, Left Ventricular Thrombus, and Wall Motion Abnormalities. Curr Cardiol Rep 2023; 25:1687-1697. [PMID: 38079058 PMCID: PMC10810933 DOI: 10.1007/s11886-023-02009-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW To review the evidence regarding stroke and recent myocardial infarction (MI), reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular thrombus (LVT), and wall motion abnormalities (WMA). RECENT FINDINGS The risk of ischemic stroke associated with acute MI has been greatly reduced with reperfusion treatments that improved myocardium salvage. Acute ischemic stroke is an uncommon complication of diagnostic coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention. For established LVT, anticoagulation is superior to antiplatelet medications to reduce the risk of ischemic stroke. The duration of anticoagulation should be at least 3 to 6 months. Direct oral anticoagulants have been used off-label in this context. In patients with low ejection fraction or WMA, there is no evidence that anticoagulation is superior to antiplatelet treatment in preventing ischemic stroke. In patients with ischemic stroke and recent MI (< 3 months), type of MI (STEMI or NSTEMI), timing, and location should be considered when deciding whether intravenous thrombolysis should be used for stroke treatment. Mechanical thrombectomy should be considered as a therapeutic alternative to intravenous thrombolysis in patients with acute ischemic stroke due to large-vessel occlusion and recent MI. Most guidelines regarding prevention of ischemic stroke in patients with these cardiac causes of stroke are derived from expert opinion. There is a need for high quality evidence to support stroke prevention treatments in these patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Catarina Fonseca
- Stroke Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital de Santa Maria, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Avenida Professor Egas Moniz, 1640-035, Lisboa, Portugal.
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
- Centro de Estudos Egas Moniz, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Kelley RE, Kelley BP. Heart-Brain Relationship in Stroke. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9121835. [PMID: 34944651 PMCID: PMC8698726 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9121835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The patient presenting with stroke often has cardiac-related risk factors which may be involved in the mechanism of the stroke. The diagnostic assessment is predicated on recognition of this potential relationship. Naturally, an accurate history is of utmost importance in discerning a possible cause and effect relationship. The EKG is obviously an important clue as well as it allows immediate assessment for possible cardiac arrhythmia, such as atrial fibrillation, for possible acute ischemic changes reflective of myocardial ischemia, or there may be indirect factors such as the presence of left ventricular hypertrophy, typically seen with longstanding hypertension, which could be indicative of a hypertensive mechanism for a patient presenting with intracerebral hemorrhage. For all presentations in the emergency room, the vital signs are important. An elevated body temperature in a patient presenting with acute stroke raises concern about possible infective endocarditis. An irregular-irregular pulse is an indicator of atrial fibrillation. A markedly elevated blood pressure is not uncommon in both the acute ischemic and acute hemorrhagic stroke setting. One tends to focus on possible cardioembolic stroke if there is the sudden onset of maximum neurological deficit versus the stepwise progression more characteristic of thrombotic stroke. Because of the more sudden loss of vascular supply with embolic occlusion, seizure or syncope at onset tends to be supportive of this mechanism. Different vascular territory involvement on neuroimaging is also a potential indicator of cardioembolic stroke. Identification of a cardiogenic source of embolus in such a setting certainly elevates this mechanism in the differential. There have been major advances in management of acute cerebrovascular disease in recent decades, such as thrombolytic therapy and endovascular thrombectomy, which have somewhat paralleled the advances made in cardiovascular disease. Unfortunately, the successful limitation of myocardial damage in acute coronary syndrome, with intervention, does not necessarily mirror a similar salutary effect on functional outcome with cerebral infarction. The heart can also affect the brain from a cerebral perfusion standpoint. Transient arrhythmias can result in syncope, while cardiac arrest can result in hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Cardiogenic dementia has been identified as a mechanism of cognitive impairment associated with severe cardiac failure. Structural cardiac abnormalities can also play a role in brain insult, and this can include tumors, such as atrial myxoma, patent foramen ovale, with the potential for paradoxical cerebral embolism, and cardiomyopathies, such as Takotsubo, can be associated with precipitous cardioembolic events.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Roger E. Kelley
- Ochsner/LSU Health Sciences Center, Department of Neurology, Shreveport, LA 71130, USA
- Correspondence:
| | - Brian P. Kelley
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA;
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Meinel TR, Eggimann A, Brignoli K, Wustmann K, Buffle E, Meinel FG, Scheitz JF, Nolte CH, Gräni C, Fischer U, Kaesmacher J, Seiffge DJ, Seiler C, Jung S. Cardiovascular MRI Compared to Echocardiography to Identify Cardioaortic Sources of Ischemic Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Front Neurol 2021; 12:699838. [PMID: 34393979 PMCID: PMC8362907 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.699838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: To compare the diagnostic yield of echocardiography and cardiovascular MRI (CMR) to detect structural sources of embolism, in patients with ischemic stroke with a secondary analysis of non-stroke populations. Methods and Results: We searched MEDLINE/Embase (from 01.01.2000 to 24.04.2021) for studies including CMR to assess prespecified sources of embolism. Comparison included transthoracic and/or transesophageal echocardiography. Two authors independently screened studies, extracted data and assessed bias using the QUADAS-2 tool. Estimates of diagnostic yield were reported and pooled. Twenty-seven studies with 2,525 patients were included in a study-level analysis. Most studies had moderate to high risk of bias. Persistent foramen ovale, complex aortic plaques, left ventricular and left atrial thrombus were the most common pathologies. There was no difference in the yield of left ventricular thrombus detection between both modalities for stroke populations (4 studies), but an increased yield of CMR in non-stroke populations (28.1 vs. 16.0%, P < 0.001, 10 studies). The diagnostic yield in stroke patients for detection of persistent foramen ovale was lower in CMR compared to transoesophageal echocardiography (29.3 vs. 53.7%, P < 0.001, 5 studies). For both echocardiography and CMR the clinical impact of the management consequences derived from many of the diagnostic findings remained undetermined in the identified studies. Conclusions: Echocardiography and CMR seem to have similar diagnostic yield for most cardioaortic sources of embolism except persistent foramen ovale and left ventricular thrombus. Randomized controlled diagnostic trials are necessary to understand the impact on the management and potential clinical benefits of the assessment of structural cardioaortic stroke sources. Registration: PROSPERO: CRD42020158787.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas R Meinel
- Department of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Angela Eggimann
- Department of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Kristina Brignoli
- Department of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Kerstin Wustmann
- Department of Cardiology, Inselspital Bern, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Eric Buffle
- Department of Cardiology, Inselspital Bern, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Felix G Meinel
- Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Pediatric Radiology and Neuroradiology, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Jan F Scheitz
- Klinik und Hochschulambulanz für Neurologie, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Klinik für Neurologie, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.,German Centre for Cardiovascular Research, Deutsches Zentrum für Herz-Kreislauf-Forschung, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian H Nolte
- Klinik und Hochschulambulanz für Neurologie, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Klinik für Neurologie, Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.,German Centre for Cardiovascular Research, Deutsches Zentrum für Herz-Kreislauf-Forschung, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christoph Gräni
- Department of Cardiology, Inselspital Bern, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Urs Fischer
- Department of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Johannes Kaesmacher
- Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland
| | - David J Seiffge
- Department of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Christian Seiler
- Department of Cardiology, Inselspital Bern, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Simon Jung
- Department of Neurology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, and University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Fonseca AC, Coelho P. Update on Biomarkers Associated to Cardioembolic Stroke: A Narrative Review. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11050448. [PMID: 34067554 PMCID: PMC8156147 DOI: 10.3390/life11050448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
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 biomarkers of cardioembolic stroke, the ones that have the highest amount of evidence for their use. NT-proBNP is currently used for the selection of patients that will be included in clinical trials that aim to evaluate the use of anticoagulation in patients suspected of having a cardioembolic stroke and for the selection of patients to undergo cardiac monitoring. NT-proBNP has also been incorporated in tools used to predict the risk of stroke recurrence (ABC-stroke score). Conclusions: NT-proBNP and BNP continue to be the biomarkers most widely studied in the context of cardioembolic stroke. The possibility of using other biomarkers in clinical practice is still distant, mainly because of the low methodological quality of the studies in which they were evaluated. Both internal and external validation studies are rarely performed for most biomarkers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Catarina Fonseca
- Department of Neurology, Hospital de Santa Maria, 1640-035 Lisboa, Portugal;
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
- Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
- Correspondence:
| | - Pedro Coelho
- Department of Neurology, Hospital de Santa Maria, 1640-035 Lisboa, Portugal;
| |
Collapse
|