Association between the effect of spontaneous contrast in the thoracic aorta and recent ischemic stroke determined by transesophageal echocardiography.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the independent association between the presence of spontaneous echo contrast in the aorta and recent stroke events.


METHODS
Two hundred and twenty-four individuals with a diagnosis of recent stroke and 85 control individuals who were examined due to various present/suspected heart diseases were studied through transesophageal echocardiography. The effects of spontaneous contrast in the aorta and the presence of other potential sources of cardiac embolism associated with them were researched and a questionnaire was completed about patients' clinical risk factors at the time of examination.


RESULTS
The effects of contrast in the aorta was associated with stroke (OR=2.83; CI = 95%, 1.65-4.46; P<0.001) in the bivariate analysis. In the multivariate analysis, it remained associated with recent stroke (OR=2.05; CI = 90%, 1.10-3.85; P=0.06). Age > 60 years, a history of systemic blood hypertension and smoking, and dyslipidemia were risk factors independently associated with the effects of contrast in the aorta. The presence of a spontaneous contrast effect in the left atrium and Lambl's excrescences were echocardiographic factors independently associated with the effects of contrast in the aorta.


CONCLUSIONS
The effect of contrast in the aorta was independently associated with recent stroke and with its clinical risk factors. These results reinforce the hypothesis that the phenomenon is a predictor of several risk factors.
Centro de Diagnóstico por Imagem, Hospital São Lucas, Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brasil. flaviove@terra.com.br
Flavio José Petersen
FJ
Velho
Fernanda
F
Dotta
Leonora
L
Scherer
Eduardo
E
Bartholomay
Daniela Augusta
DA
da Silva
Jefferson Gomes
JG
Fernandes
Marco Antonio Rodrigues
MA
Torres
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D004617:Embolism / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires