Authors
MURAT YILMAZ1
, MUSTAFA GOKHAN VURAL2
, MUSTURAY KARCAALTINCABA3
, TAHIR KURTULUS YOLDAS4
, MUHITTIN SERKAN
YILMAZ5
, CEMIL KAVALCI6
Departments
1
May State Hospital Neurology Department/Ankara, Turkey - 2
Sakarya University Faculty of Medicine, Cardiology Department,
Adapazarı, Turkey - 3
Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Radiology Department, Ankara, Turkey - 4
Yildirim Beyazit
University Faculty of Medicine, Neurology Department, Ankara, Turkey - 5
Numune Training and Research Hospital, Emergency
Department, Ankara, Turkey - 6
Baskent University Faculty of Medicine, Emergency Department, Ankara/Turkey
Abstract
Introduction: Stroke is the second most cause of death worldwide after coronary artery disease. Left-sided atrial septal pouch
(LASP) is associated with potential cardioembolic stroke. This study determines the association between LASP and cryptogenic
stroke (CS) using cardiac multi-detector computed tomography (cMDCT) angiograms.
Materials and methods: This study included 40 patients with CS (23 males, mean age: 40.3 ± 10.4 years) and 40 age- and sexmatched
healthy controls. cMDCT examinations by dual-source 64-slice MDCT with 0.6-mm slice thickness were performed for all
patients and controls. The association between LASP and risk of CS was assessed after adjustment for other stroke risk factors.
Results: Patients with LASP were younger than control subjects (41.3 ± 7.2 years vs 44.2 ± 5.7 years; p = 0.066), with a comparable
prevalence of hypertension (42.5% vs 35%; p = 0.491) and other risk factors. There were no differences in the prevalence of
LASP between patients and controls (32.5% vs 25%; p = 0.621). LASP was observed in 43.5% (n = 10) of normotensive stroke
patients compared to 15.4% (n = 4) of normotensive controls (Odds Ratio (OR): 4.23, 95% CI: 1.09-16.27, p = 0.063). On the other
hand, LASP was detected in 17.6% (n = 3) of hypertensive CS patients compared to 42.9% (n = 6) of hypertensive controls (OR:
0.28, 95% CI: 0.05-4.23, p = 0.253). The presence of LASP was not associated with an increased risk of CS.
Conclusion: This study suggests that LASP is associated with CS. However, in normotensive individuals, LASP may be a minor
risk factor for CS.
Keywords
left-sided atrial septal pouch, cryptogenic stroke, multi-slice cardiac computed tomography angiogram
DOI:
10.19193/0393-6384_2016_3_90