title: Mild left ventricular dysfunction is associated with thrombogenicity in cardioembolic stroke.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has been recognized as a valuable tool for identifying the left cardiac thrombus (LCT) or spontaneous echocardiographic contrast (SEC). We aimed to identify risk groups where TEE should be performed in patients with suspected cardioembolic stroke according to magnetic resonance imaging analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and forty-six patients (mean age 64.7 +/- 11.8 years, 101 males) with suspected cardioembolic stroke were analyzed. We used TEE for the presence of LCT and/or SEC as indication of thrombogenicity. We evaluated the association between thrombogenicity and demographic features, stroke risk factors and echocardiographic variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included 40 patients (27.3%) who showed thrombogenicity (10 LCT and 30 SEC). The independent echocardiographic variables of thrombogenicity were atrial fibrillation (OR 7.14; 95% CI 2.62-19.48; p < 0.001) and left ventricular ejection fraction </=50% (OR 4.01; 95% CI 1.40-11.49; p = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We recommend that TEE should be considered in patients with mildly reduced left ventricular dysfunction (ejection fraction </=50%) after suspected cardioembolic stroke.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Kyunghee University East-West Neo Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyung-Min
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Jong-Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jeong-Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Byung-Woo
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Yoon
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D004617:Embolism / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008297:Male; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013318:Stroke Volume; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*