Abstract:
Abstract
In a series of patients with cerebrovascular disease, delayed enhancement cardiac magnetic resonance (DE-CMR) detected non-coronary artery disease (non-CAD) scarring in 15.3% of stroke patients and 4.8% in TIA patients [2]. One hypothesis for this trend was that high incidence of non-CAD scarring may be a result of small micro emboli and a biomarker for atrial fibrillation [2]. If validated as a biomarker for non- CAD scarring, earlier diagnosis and treatment could potentially decrease the number of cryptogenic embolic strokes through earlier anticoagulation therapy and decrease the economic burden of stroke- related treatment and healthcare costs [3,13].
Methods
EPIC Slicer dicer was utilized to search for “stroke” and cardiac MRI”. 87 patients’ medical records were accessed in order to obtain information regarding the factors stated previously, the presence of atrial fibrillation, and cMRI results. Patients’ medical histories were evaluated to see if there was an association between non-CAD scarring and atrial fibrillation. Factors such as gender, smoking, alcohol consumption, diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, renal disease, history of myocardial infarction (MI), seizures, and race was also analyzed to see if these factors had any effect on the prevalence of non-CAD scarring and atrial fibrillation.
Results
Large differences in the occurrences of non-CAD and CAD scarring were seen with gender, smoking, diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, renal disease, history of MI, and seizures in patients with no documented atrial fibrillation. There were more non-CAD and CAD scarring males with no atrial fibrillation compared to females and more non-CAD and CAD scarring occurrences when smoking, diabetes, or hypertension was present with no atrial fibrillation. Non-CAD and CAD scarring occurrences with no atrial fibrillation were more prevalent in the absence of renal disease, history of MI, and seizures; these trends with renal disease and seizures were unexpected.
Conclusions
Even though trends were observed with the various factors, scarring, and the presence or absence of atrial fibrillation, our study found no statistically significant evidence that suggests certain factors impact non- CAD or CAD scarring with and without atrial fibrillation. In this patient sample, we saw no association between non-CAD scarring and atrial fibrillation. Future studies could be conducted to explore the unexpected scarring trend seen with no renal disease or seizures present.
Keywords:
Non-Coronary Artery Disease; EPIC Slicer dicer ; Atrial Fibrillation; cMRI