title: Atrial Fibrillation and Stroke: A Neurologic Perspective.
abstract: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common supraventricular arrhythmia in the United States. The incidence and prevalence of AF are increasing as the population ages and associated risk factors become more prevalent. Stroke is the most severe complication of AF. Various risk stratification schemes to guide therapy and the associated risk of bleeding are described. AF is also associated with cognitive decline, which may be secondary to recurrent microemboli; microbleeds secondary to anticoagulation therapy, or progression of vascular risk factors associated with AF. Prolonged monitoring can be performed to detect AF in patients with cryptogenic stroke.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street Southwest, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Siva K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Mulpuru
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street Southwest, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
authors.forename: Alejandro A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Rabinstein
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street Southwest, Rochester, MN 55905, USA; Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 200 First Street Southwest, Rochester, MN 55905, USA. Electronic address: asirvatham.samuel@mayo.edu.
authors.forename: Samuel J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Asirvatham
keywords: Ablation; Atrial fibrillation; Dementia; Monitoring; Stroke