TY - JOUR A1 - Schnabel, Renate B. A1 - Camen, Stephan A1 - Knebel, Fabian A1 - Hagendorff, Andreas A1 - Bavendiek, Udo A1 - Böhm, Michael A1 - Doehner, Wolfram A1 - Endres, Matthias A1 - Gröschel, Klaus A1 - Goette, Andreas A1 - Huttner, Hagen B. A1 - Jensen, Christoph A1 - Kirchhof, Paulus A1 - Korosoglou, Grigorius A1 - Laufs, Ulrich A1 - Liman, Jan A1 - Morbach, Caroline A1 - Navabi, Darius Günther A1 - Neumann-Haefelin, Tobias A1 - Pfeilschifter, Waltraut A1 - Poli, Sven A1 - Rizos, Timolaos A1 - Rolf, Andreas A1 - Röther, Joachim A1 - Schäbitz, Wolf Rüdiger A1 - Steiner, Thorsten A1 - Thomalla, Götz A1 - Wachter, Rolf A1 - Haeusler, Karl Georg T1 - Expert opinion paper on cardiac imaging after ischemic stroke JF - Clinical Research in Cardiology N2 - This expert opinion paper on cardiac imaging after acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) includes a statement of the "Heart and Brain" consortium of the German Cardiac Society and the German Stroke Society. The Stroke Unit-Commission of the German Stroke Society and the German Atrial Fibrillation NETwork (AFNET) endorsed this paper. Cardiac imaging is a key component of etiological work-up after stroke. Enhanced echocardiographic tools, constantly improving cardiac computer tomography (CT) as well as cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) offer comprehensive non- or less-invasive cardiac evaluation at the expense of increased costs and/or radiation exposure. Certain imaging findings usually lead to a change in medical secondary stroke prevention or may influence medical treatment. However, there is no proof from a randomized controlled trial (RCT) that the choice of the imaging method influences the prognosis of stroke patients. Summarizing present knowledge, the German Heart and Brain consortium proposes an interdisciplinary, staged standard diagnostic scheme for the detection of risk factors of cardio-embolic stroke. This expert opinion paper aims to give practical advice to physicians who are involved in stroke care. In line with the nature of an expert opinion paper, labeling of classes of recommendations is not provided, since many statements are based on expert opinion, reported case series, and clinical experience. KW - cardiac imaging KW - echocardiography KW - ischemic stroke KW - transient ischemic attack KW - expert opinion KW - magnetic resonance imaging KW - computed tomography Y1 - 2021 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-266662 SN - 1861-0692 VL - 110 IS - 7 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Herm, Juliane A1 - Schurig, Johannes A1 - Martinek, Martin R. A1 - Höltgen, Reinhard A1 - Schirdewan, Alexander A1 - Kirchhof, Paulus A1 - Wieczorek, Marcus A1 - Pürerfellner, Helmut A1 - Heuschmann, Peter U. A1 - Fiebach, Jochen B. A1 - Haeusler, Karl Georg T1 - MRI-detected brain lesions in AF patients without further stroke risk factors undergoing ablation - a retrospective analysis of prospective studies JF - BMC Cardiovascular Disorders N2 - Background Atrial fibrillation (AF) without other stroke risk factors is assumed to have a low annual stroke risk comparable to patients without AF. Therefore, current clinical guidelines do not recommend oral anticoagulation for stroke prevention of AF in patients without stroke risk factors. We analyzed brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) imaging to estimate the rate of clinically inapparent (“silent”) ischemic brain lesions in these patients. Methods We pooled individual patient-level data from three prospective studies comprising stroke-free patients with symptomatic AF. All study patients underwent brain MRI within 24–48 h before planned left atrial catheter ablation. MRIs were analyzed by a neuroradiologist blinded to clinical data. Results In total, 175 patients (median age 60 (IQR 54–67) years, 32% female, median CHA\(_2\)DS\(_2\)-VASc = 1 (IQR 0–2), 33% persistent AF) were included. In AF patients without or with at least one stroke risk factor, at least one silent ischemic brain lesion was observed in 4 (8%) out of 48 and 10 (8%) out of 127 patients, respectively (p > 0.99). Presence of silent ischemic brain lesions was related to age (p = 0.03) but not to AF pattern (p = 0.77). At least one cerebral microbleed was detected in 5 (13%) out of 30 AF patients without stroke risk factors and 25 (25%) out of 108 AF patients with stroke risk factors (p = 0.2). Presence of cerebral microbleeds was related to male sex (p = 0.04) or peripheral artery occlusive disease (p = 0.03). Conclusion In patients with symptomatic AF scheduled for ablation, brain MRI detected silent ischemic brain lesions in approximately one in 12 patients, and microbleeds in one in 5 patients. The prevalence of silent ischemic brain lesions did not differ in AF patients with or without further stroke risk factors. KW - Clinically silent stroke KW - atrial fibrillation KW - magnetic resonance imaging KW - cerebral microbleeds Y1 - 2019 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-201226 VL - 19 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Haeusler, Karl Georg A1 - Herm, Juliane A1 - Kunze, Claudia A1 - Krüll, Matthias A1 - Brechtel, Lars A1 - Lock, Jürgen A1 - Hohenhaus, Marc A1 - Heuschmann, Peter U. A1 - Fiebach, Jochen B. A1 - Haverkamp, Wilhelm A1 - Endres, Matthias A1 - Jungehulsing, Gerhard Jan T1 - Rate of cardiac arrhythmias and silent brain lesions in experienced marathon runners: rationale, design and baseline data of the Berlin Beat of Running study JF - BMC Cardiovascular Disorders N2 - Background: Regular exercise is beneficial for cardiovascular health but a recent meta-analysis indicated a relationship between extensive endurance sport and a higher risk of atrial fibrillation, an independent risk factor for stroke. However, data on the frequency of cardiac arrhythmias or (clinically silent) brain lesions during and after marathon running are missing. Methods/Design: In the prospective observational "Berlin Beat of Running" study experienced endurance athletes underwent clinical examination (CE), 3 Tesla brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), carotid ultrasound imaging (CUI) and serial blood sampling (BS) within 2-3 days prior (CE, MRI, CUI, BS), directly after (CE, BS) and within 2 days after (CE, MRI, BS) the 38\(^{th}\) BMW BERLIN-MARATHON 2011. All participants wore a portable electrocardiogram (ECG)-recorder throughout the 4 to 5 days baseline study period. Participants with pathological MRI findings after the marathon, troponin elevations or detected cardiac arrhythmias will be asked to undergo cardiac MRI to rule out structural abnormalities. A follow-up is scheduled after one year. Results: Here we report the baseline data of the enrolled 110 athletes aged 36-61 years. Their mean age was 48.8 \(\pm\) 6.0 years, 24.5% were female, 8.2% had hypertension and 2.7% had hyperlipidaemia. Participants have attended a mean of 7.5 \(\pm\) 6.6 marathon races within the last 5 years and a mean of 16 \(\pm\) 36 marathon races in total. Their weekly running distance prior to the 38\(^{th}\) BMW BERLIN-MARATHON was 65 \(\pm\) 17 km. Finally, 108 (98.2%) Berlin Beat-Study participants successfully completed the 38\(^{th}\) BMW BERLIN-MARATHON 2011. Discussion: Findings from the "Berlin Beats of Running" study will help to balance the benefits and risks of extensive endurance sport. ECG-recording during the marathon might contribute to identify athletes at risk for cardiovascular events. MRI results will give new insights into the link between physical stress and brain damage. KW - marathon running KW - cardiac arrhythmia KW - atrial fibrillation KW - physical activity KW - cardiovascular events KW - carotid artery KW - risk factor KW - stroke KW - exercise KW - death KW - metaanalysis KW - mechanisms KW - ECG-recording KW - magnetic resonance imaging KW - blood sampling Y1 - 2012 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-133677 VL - 12 IS - 69 ER -