title: Frequency of stroke and embolism in left ventricular hypertrabeculation/noncompaction.
abstract: Left ventricular hypertrabeculation/noncompaction (LVHT/NC) is associated with stroke or embolism (S/E). The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the rate, risk factors, and cause of S/E in patients with LVHT/NC. The medical records of patients with LVHT/NC were retrospectively screened for S/E. For stroke classification, the Trial of ORG 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST) criteria were applied, and for peripheral embolism, angiographic findings were used. Baseline clinical, echocardiographic, and electrocardiographic data were compared between patients with and without S/E. In 22 of 144 patients (15%), stroke (n = 21) or peripheral embolism (n = 1) had occurred. The cause of S/E was cardioembolic (n = 14), atherosclerotic (n = 5), or undetermined (n = 3). S/E occurred before (n = 14) and after (n = 8) the diagnosis of LVHT/NC. Only mean age (60 vs 53 years, p <0.05) and the prevalence of hypertension (32% vs 59%, p <0.05) were higher in patients with S/E than in those without S/E. Among patients with cardioembolic S/E, 13 of 14 had either atrial fibrillation (AF) or systolic dysfunction, and AF as well as systolic dysfunction were found in 4 of 14 patients. In conclusion, S/E in patients with LVHT/NC is not always cardioembolic but may also have an atherosclerotic cause. In the absence of AF or left ventricular systolic dysfunction, cardioembolic S/E is rare in patients with LVHT/NC. These findings suggest that patients with LVHT/NC with systolic dysfunction or AF should receive oral anticoagulation as primary prophylaxis against S/E.
authors.affiliation: Krankenanstalt Rudolfstiftung, Vienna, Austria. claudia.stoellberger@chello.at
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stöllberger
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Blazek
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dobias
authors.forename: Aileen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hanafin
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wegner
authors.forename: Josef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Finsterer
mesh_terms: D000792:Angiography; D001317:Austria / Q000453:epidemiology; D001706:Biopsy; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004617:Embolism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D056830:Isolated Noncompaction of the Ventricular Myocardium / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology