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Detection of Atrial Fibrillation in Cryptogenic Stroke

  • Stroke (H Diener, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

To summarize the literature on the detection of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with “cryptogenic” stroke, a cohort including about 25% of all ischemic stroke patients and patients with embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS).

Recent Findings

A first episode of AF is detected in up to one third of cryptogenic stroke and in up to one fourth of ESUS patients during long-term monitoring. AF prevalence correlates to patient selection, duration, and quality of ECG monitoring. Higher rates of AF were reported in stroke patients with left atrial pathology, specific ECG alterations, or increased natriuretic peptides. While AF detection impacts on medical stroke prevention in the vast majority of patients, patient selection for prolonged monitoring is largely left at the physician’s discretion.

Summary

AF detection after cryptogenic stroke or ESUS is a frequent, potentially causal condition. Whether subsequent oral anticoagulation may improve outcome remains open.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    Karl Georg Haeusler

  2. Center for Stroke Research Berlin, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12203, Berlin, Germany

    Karl Georg Haeusler & Serdar Tütüncü

  3. Atrial Fibrillation NETwork (AFNET) e.V, Münster, Germany

    Karl Georg Haeusler & Renate B. Schnabel

  4. Department of Neurology, Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany

    Karl Georg Haeusler

  5. Abteilung für Allgemeine und Interventionelle Kardiologie, Universitäres Herzzentrum Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany

    Renate B. Schnabel

  6. Deutsches Zentrum für Herz-Kreislauf-Forschung e.V. (DZHK), Partner Site Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany

    Renate B. Schnabel

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  1. Karl Georg Haeusler
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  2. Serdar Tütüncü
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  3. Renate B. Schnabel
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Correspondence to Karl Georg Haeusler.

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Conflict of Interest

Karl Georg Haeusler has received grants and personal fees from Bayer and Sanofi, personal fees from Boehringer Ingelheim, Daiichi-Sankyo, Pfizer, BMS, Medtronic, EIP Pharma, Edwards Lifesciences, and non-financial support from Getemed.

Serdar Tütüncü has received lecture fees from DTN-Kompakt (meeting/conference).

Renate B. Schnabel has received a grant from the European Research Council, and personal fees from BMS/Pfizer and the German Cardiac Society.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Stroke

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Haeusler, K.G., Tütüncü, S. & Schnabel, R.B. Detection of Atrial Fibrillation in Cryptogenic Stroke. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 18, 66 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-018-0871-1

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