Cardiac diagnostic work-up of ischaemic stroke

Eur Heart J. 2018 May 21;39(20):1851-1860. doi: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehy043.

Abstract

Cardioembolic sources account for 20-30% of ischaemic strokes and are important to identify considering their prognostic and therapeutic implications. During the past years, new developments have been made in the cardiac diagnostic evaluation and management of patients with ischaemic stroke, especially regarding strokes of unknown aetiology. These recent advances have had a major impact on our understanding of embolic strokes, their diagnostic work-up, and clinical management. Herein, we propose a cardiac diagnostic work-up scheme for patients with ischaemic stroke from definite cardioembolic sources and embolic strokes of undetermined source.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aortic Diseases / complications
  • Atrial Fibrillation / complications
  • Brain Ischemia / etiology*
  • Foramen Ovale, Patent / complications
  • Heart Diseases / complications*
  • Heart Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Humans
  • Intracranial Embolism / etiology*
  • Risk Factors
  • Stroke / etiology*