TY - JOUR A1 - Montellano, Felipe A. A1 - Kluter, Elisabeth J. A1 - Rücker, Viktoria A1 - Ungethüm, Kathrin A1 - Mackenrodt, Daniel A1 - Wiedmann, Silke A1 - Dege, Tassilo A1 - Quilitzsch, Anika A1 - Morbach, Caroline A1 - Frantz, Stefan A1 - Störk, Stefan A1 - Haeusler, Karl Georg A1 - Kleinschnitz, Christoph A1 - Heuschmann, Peter U. T1 - Cardiac dysfunction and high-sensitive C-reactive protein are associated with troponin T elevation in ischemic stroke: insights from the SICFAIL study JF - BMC Neurology N2 - Background Troponin elevation is common in ischemic stroke (IS) patients. The pathomechanisms involved are incompletely understood and comprise coronary and non-coronary causes, e.g. autonomic dysfunction. We investigated determinants of troponin elevation in acute IS patients including markers of autonomic dysfunction, assessed by heart rate variability (HRV) time domain variables. Methods Data were collected within the Stroke Induced Cardiac FAILure (SICFAIL) cohort study. IS patients admitted to the Department of Neurology, Würzburg University Hospital, underwent baseline investigation including cardiac history, physical examination, echocardiography, and blood sampling. Four HRV time domain variables were calculated in patients undergoing electrocardiographic Holter monitoring. Multivariable logistic regression with corresponding odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) was used to investigate the determinants of high-sensitive troponin T (hs-TnT) levels ≥14 ng/L. Results We report results from 543 IS patients recruited between 01/2014–02/2017. Of those, 203 (37%) had hs-TnT ≥14 ng/L, which was independently associated with older age (OR per year 1.05; 95% CI 1.02–1.08), male sex (OR 2.65; 95% CI 1.54–4.58), decreasing estimated glomerular filtration rate (OR per 10 mL/min/1.73 m2 0.71; 95% CI 0.61–0.84), systolic dysfunction (OR 2.79; 95% CI 1.22–6.37), diastolic dysfunction (OR 2.29; 95% CI 1.29–4.02), atrial fibrillation (OR 2.30; 95% CI 1.25–4.23), and increasing levels of C-reactive protein (OR 1.48 per log unit; 95% CI 1.22–1.79). We did not identify an independent association of troponin elevation with the investigated HRV variables. Conclusion Cardiac dysfunction and elevated C-reactive protein, but not a reduced HRV as surrogate of autonomic dysfunction, were associated with increased hs-TnT levels in IS patients independent of established cardiovascular risk factors. KW - echocardiography KW - ischemic stroke KW - troponin KW - heart failure KW - biomarkers Y1 - 2022 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-300119 VL - 22 IS - 1 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Tütüncü, Serdar A1 - Olma, Manuel C. A1 - Kunze, Claudia A1 - Krämer, Michael A1 - Dietzel, Joanna A1 - Schurig, Johannes A1 - Filser, Paula A1 - Pfeilschifter, Waltraud A1 - Hamann, Gerhard F. A1 - Büttner, Thomas A1 - Heuschmann, Peter U. A1 - Kirchhof, Paulus A1 - Laufs, Ulrich A1 - Nabavi, Darius G. A1 - Röther, Joachim A1 - Thomalla, Götz A1 - Veltkamp, Roland A1 - Eckardt, Kai‐Uwe A1 - Haeusler, Karl Georg A1 - Endres, Matthias T1 - Levels and dynamics of estimated glomerular filtration rate and recurrent vascular events and death in patients with minor stroke or transient ischemic attack JF - European Journal of Neurology N2 - Background and purpose Impaired kidney function is associated with an increased risk of vascular events in acute stroke patients, when assessed by single measurements of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). It is unknown whether repeated measurements provide additional information for risk prediction. Methods The MonDAFIS (Systematic Monitoring for Detection of Atrial Fibrillation in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke) study randomly assigned 3465 acute ischemic stroke patients to either standard procedures or an additive Holter electrocardiogram. Baseline eGFR (CKD‐EPI formula) were dichotomized into values of < versus ≥60 ml/min/1.73 m\(^{2}\). eGFR dynamics were classified based on two in‐hospital values as “stable normal” (≥60 ml/min/1.73 m\(^{2}\)), “increasing” (by at least 15% from baseline, second value ≥ 60 ml/min/1.73 m\(^{2}\)), “decreasing” (by at least 15% from baseline of ≥60 ml/min/1.73 m\(^{2}\)), and “stable decreased” (<60 ml/min/1.73 m\(^{2}\)). The composite endpoint (stroke, major bleeding, myocardial infarction, all‐cause death) was assessed after 24 months. We estimated hazard ratios in confounder‐adjusted models. Results Estimated glomerular filtration rate at baseline was available in 2947 and a second value in 1623 patients. After adjusting for age, stroke severity, cardiovascular risk factors, and randomization, eGFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m\(^{2}\) at baseline (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.2, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.40–3.54) as well as decreasing (HR = 1.79, 95% CI = 1.07–2.99) and stable decreased eGFR (HR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.20–2.24) were independently associated with the composite endpoint. In addition, eGFR < 60 ml/min/1.732 at baseline (HR = 3.02, 95% CI = 1.51–6.10) and decreasing eGFR were associated with all‐cause death (HR = 3.12, 95% CI = 1.63–5.98). Conclusions In addition to patients with low eGFR levels at baseline, also those with decreasing eGFR have increased risk for vascular events and death; hence, repeated estimates of eGFR might add relevant information to risk prediction. KW - kidney function KW - prognosis KW - stroke Y1 - 2022 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-287271 VL - 29 IS - 9 SP - 2716 EP - 2724 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Tütüncü, Serdar A1 - Olma, Manuel A1 - Kunze, Claudia A1 - Dietzel, Joanna A1 - Schurig, Johannes A1 - Fiessler, Cornelia A1 - Malsch, Carolin A1 - Haas, Tobias Eberhard A1 - Dimitrijeski, Boris A1 - Doehner, Wolfram A1 - Hagemann, Georg A1 - Hamilton, Frank A1 - Honermann, Martin A1 - Jungehulsing, Gerhard Jan A1 - Kauert, Andreas A1 - Koennecke, Hans-Christian A1 - Mackert, Bruno-Marcel A1 - Nabavi, Darius A1 - Nolte, Christian H. A1 - Reis, Joschua Mirko A1 - Schmehl, Ingo A1 - Sparenberg, Paul A1 - Stingele, Robert A1 - Völzke, Enrico A1 - Waldschmidt, Carolin A1 - Zeise-Wehry, Daniel A1 - Heuschmann, Peter U. A1 - Endress, Matthias A1 - Haeusler, Karl Georg T1 - Off-label-dosing of non-vitamin K-dependent oral antagonists in AF patients before and after stroke: results of the prospective multicenter Berlin Atrial Fibrillation Registry JF - Journal of Neurology N2 - Aims We aimed to analyze prevalence and predictors of NOAC off-label under-dosing in AF patients before and after the index stroke. Methods The post hoc analysis included 1080 patients of the investigator-initiated, multicenter prospective Berlin Atrial Fibrillation Registry, designed to analyze medical stroke prevention in AF patients after acute ischemic stroke. Results At stroke onset, an off-label daily dose was prescribed in 61 (25.5%) of 239 NOAC patients with known AF and CHA2DS2-VASc score ≥ 1, of which 52 (21.8%) patients were under-dosed. Under-dosing was associated with age ≥ 80 years in patients on rivaroxaban [OR 2.90, 95% CI 1.05-7.9, P = 0.04; n = 29] or apixaban [OR 3.24, 95% CI 1.04-10.1, P = 0.04; n = 22]. At hospital discharge after the index stroke, NOAC off-label dose on admission was continued in 30 (49.2%) of 61 patients. Overall, 79 (13.7%) of 708 patients prescribed a NOAC at hospital discharge received an off-label dose, of whom 75 (10.6%) patients were under-dosed. Rivaroxaban under-dosing at discharge was associated with age ≥ 80 years [OR 3.49, 95% CI 1.24-9.84, P = 0.02; n = 19]; apixaban under-dosing with body weight ≤ 60 kg [OR 0.06, 95% CI 0.01-0.47, P < 0.01; n = 56], CHA2DS2-VASc score [OR per point 1.47, 95% CI 1.08-2.00, P = 0.01], and HAS-BLED score [OR per point 1.91, 95% CI 1.28-2.84, P < 0.01]. Conclusion At stroke onset, off-label dosing was present in one out of four, and under-dosing in one out of five NOAC patients. Under-dosing of rivaroxaban or apixaban was related to old age. In-hospital treatment after stroke reduced off-label NOAC dosing, but one out of ten NOAC patients was under-dosed at discharge. KW - NOAC KW - ischemic stroke KW - atrial fibrillation KW - under-dosing Y1 - 2022 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-266969 SN - 1432-1459 VL - 269 IS - 1 ER - 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 - Gabriel, Katharina M. A. A1 - Jírů-Hillmann, Steffi A1 - Kraft, Peter A1 - Selig, Udo A1 - Rücker, Victoria A1 - Mühler, Johannes A1 - Dötter, Klaus A1 - Keidel, Matthias A1 - Soda, Hassan A1 - Rascher, Alexandra A1 - Schneider, Rolf A1 - Pfau, Mathias A1 - Hoffmann, Roy A1 - Stenzel, Joachim A1 - Benghebrid, Mohamed A1 - Goebel, Tobias A1 - Doerck, Sebastian A1 - Kramer, Daniela A1 - Haeusler, Karl Georg A1 - Volkmann, Jens A1 - Heuschmann, Peter U. A1 - Fluri, Felix T1 - Two years' experience of implementing a comprehensive telemedical stroke network comprising in mainly rural region: the Transregional Network for Stroke Intervention with Telemedicine (TRANSIT-Stroke) JF - BMC Neurology N2 - Background Telemedicine improves the quality of acute stroke care in rural regions with limited access to specialized stroke care. We report the first 2 years' experience of implementing a comprehensive telemedical stroke network comprising all levels of stroke care in a defined region. Methods The TRANSIT-Stroke network covers a mainly rural region in north-western Bavaria (Germany). All hospitals providing acute stroke care in this region participate in TRANSIT-Stroke, including four hospitals with a supra-regional certified stroke unit (SU) care (level III), three of those providing teleconsultation to two hospitals with a regional certified SU (level II) and five hospitals without specialized SU care (level I). For a two-year-period (01/2015 to 12/2016), data of eight of these hospitals were available; 13 evidence-based quality indicators (QIs) related to processes during hospitalisation were evaluated quarterly and compared according to predefined target values between level-I- and level-II/III-hospitals. Results Overall, 7881 patients were included (mean age 74.6 years +/- 12.8; 48.4% female). In level-II/III-hospitals adherence of all QIs to predefined targets was high ab initio. In level-I-hospitals, three patterns of QI-development were observed: a) high adherence ab initio (31%), mainly in secondary stroke prevention; b) improvement over time (44%), predominantly related to stroke specific diagnosis and in-hospital organization; c) no clear time trends (25%). Overall, 10 out of 13 QIs reached predefined target values of quality of care at the end of the observation period. Conclusion The implementation of the comprehensive TRANSIT-Stroke network resulted in an improvement of quality of care in level-I-hospitals. KW - pilot project KW - care tempis KW - ischemic stroke KW - thrombolysis KW - areas KW - time KW - hospitals KW - mortality KW - outcomes KW - quality Y1 - 2020 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-229214 VL - 20 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 -