[Left atrial stiffness in patients with cryptogenic stroke].

Source: PubMed, NCBI / U.S. National Library of Medicine

To evaluate the left atrial reservoir strain (LARS) and left atrial stiffness index (LASI) and its role in predicting atrial fibrillation (AF) and cardioembolic events in patients with cryptogenic ischemic stroke. Patients underwent echocardiographic evaluation to measure LARS and LASI, and a second 24-hour Holter within the first month of their neurological event. The association of these parameters with AF and neuroimaging findings was analyzed. ROC curves were used to evaluate the predictive ability of these parameters for AF and cardioembolic events. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify predictors. Results. LASI > 0.29 and LARS < 36% were the best predictors of AF. In univariate analysis, LASI and LARS were associated with AF. In multivariate analysis, only LASI remained significant. SRAI and iRAI were associated with the presence of cardioembolism in neuroimaging studies in the univariate analysis, and only the SRAI in the multivariate analysis. LASI and LARS can help identify patients with cryptogenic ischemic stroke at risk for AF and cardioembolic events. These parameters are useful in detecting subclinical AF and have a strong correlation with neuroimaging characteristics of cardioembolism.