title: Detection of occult paroxysmal atrial fibrilation by implantable long-term electrocardiographic monitoring in cryptogenic stroke and transient ischemic attack population: a study protocol for prospective matched cohort study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cardio-embolic etiology is the most frequently predicted cause of cryptogenic stroke/TIA. Detection of occult paroxysmal atrial fibrillation is crucial for selection of appropriate medication.
  
  
  METHODS
  Enrolment of eligible cryptogenic stroke and TIA patients began in 2014 and will continue until 2018. The patients undergo long-term (12 months) ECG monitoring (implantable loop recorder) and testing for PITX2 (chromosome 4q25) and ZFHX3 (chromosome 16q22) gene mutations. There will be an appropriate control group of age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers. To analyse the results descriptive statistics, statistical tests for group differences, and correlation analyses will be used.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In our study we are focusing on a possible correlation between detection of atrial fibrillation by an implantable ECG recorder, and PITX2 and/or ZFHX3 gene mutations in cryptogenic stroke/TIA patients. A correlation could lead to implementation of this genomic approach to cryptogenic stroke/TIA diagnostics and management. The results will be published in 2018.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02216370 .
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Faculty Hospital, Constantine Philosopher University, Špitálska 6, 94901, Nitra, Slovak Republic. andreapetrovicova65@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petrovičová
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Neurology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Kollárova 2, 03659, Martin, Slovak Republic. egonkurca@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Egon
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kurča
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Faculty Hospital, Constantine Philosopher University, Špitálska 6, 94901, Nitra, Slovak Republic. brozman.miro@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Miroslav
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brozman
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Cardiology, Faculty Hospital, Constantine Philosopher University, Špitálska 6, 94901, Nitra, Slovak Republic. hasilla@pobox.sk.
authors.forename: Jozef
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hasilla
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Cardiology, Faculty Hospital, Constantine Philosopher University, Špitálska 6, 94901, Nitra, Slovak Republic. pvahala@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Pavel
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vahala
authors.affiliation: Kardiocentrum Nitra s.r.o, Špitálska 1, 94901, Nitra, Slovak Republic. blaskopeter@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Blaško
authors.affiliation: Kardiocentrum Nitra s.r.o, Špitálska 1, 94901, Nitra, Slovak Republic. andrea.andrasova@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andrášová
authors.affiliation: Department of Arrhythmias and Cardiac Pacing, The National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Pod Krásnou hôrkou 1, 83348, Bratislava, Slovak Republic. hatala@nusch.sk.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hatala
authors.affiliation: Department of Arrhythmias and Cardiac Pacing, The National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Pod Krásnou hôrkou 1, 83348, Bratislava, Slovak Republic. lubos.urban@nusch.sk.
authors.forename: Luboš
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Urban
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Neurology, Jessenius Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Kollárova 2, 03659, Martin, Slovak Republic. sivakste@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Štefan
authors.initials: Š
authors.lastname: Sivák
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis*; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory / Q000379:methods*; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D002546:Ischemic Attack, Transient / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D009154:Mutation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D000097577:Homeobox Protein PITX2
chemical_list: D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D000097577:Homeobox Protein PITX2; C071660:ZFHX3 protein, human