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  • Writer's pictureOren Zarif

What Causes a Cryptogenic Stroke? - Oren Zarif - Cryptogenic Stroke


If you suffer from a cryptogenic stroke, you may not know what to expect. The cause of cryptogenic stroke is not fully understood, but it can include several factors. Here are some guidelines to help you manage your risk of stroke. During an evaluation, the neurologists should evaluate you for any complications, such as a clot in the artery. Your physician may prescribe blood tests or recommend certain medications if they think your symptoms could be related to hypercoagulability.

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To help determine the exact cause of your cryptogenic stroke, you should perform a thorough assessment. All patients should undergo an electrocardiogram and inpatient cardiac monitoring, and if there is no clear small-vessel cause, an additional 24 hours should be performed. Transthoracic and transoesophageal echocardiograms may identify structural cardiac sources. Other tests should be done, such as coagulopathy and common modifiable risk factors.

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Another factor to consider is age. Age is an important risk factor for cryptogenic stroke in the older population. Closing the PFO has been associated with a reduced risk of recurrent stroke, but there is no conclusive evidence for this treatment. Researchers must study a more diverse group of older patients to determine whether closing the PFO can reduce the risk of a recurrent stroke. The results of these trials will be useful in making treatment decisions for older patients.

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Continuous electrocardiographic monitoring with an ICM has improved the rate of detection of AF in patients with cryptogenic stroke. Holter monitoring, however, has a low yield compared to serial electrocardiography. Another strategy that has shown a higher rate of detection is long-term outpatient monitoring. However, the duration and method of monitoring are unknown. During a long-term follow-up, a patient may be monitored for up to seven days.

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Patients with a PFO are at increased risk for ischemic stroke after a cryptogenic TIA/stroke. Studies in older patients may justify PFO closure as secondary prevention for cryptogenic TIA/stroke. The sample size of these trials may need to be large, though. If the relative reduction in risk is smaller than that in trials of younger patients, it is possible to perform a larger trial. However, this is still a preliminary study and randomized clinical trials are required to validate this association.

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Recent research shows that percutaneous closure of PFOs can prevent recurrent ischemic stroke. In a recent study, a group of patients with cryptogenic stroke with a PFO that is associated with an atrial septal aneurysm or large interatrial shunt were randomized to either a PFO closure or medical therapy alone. The results of this study show that closure of PFOs can prevent recurrent cryptogenic stroke in about half of patients.

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The clinical characteristics of patients who have had a cryptogenic stroke vary significantly, even when they are of similar risk factors. Although cryptogenic stroke is classified as a noncardioembolic event, the cause of this condition remains unknown in approximately 30% of cases. Some determinants of stroke, such as age and blood pressure, are the same for both types. Nevertheless, the definition of CS is far from clear and requires further study.

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Regardless of the underlying cause, the optimal management of patients with a cryptogenic stroke is still unknown. Although randomized trials are needed to establish an effective treatment regimen, there are some basic management principles that should be followed. For younger patients, initial evaluation should include an assessment of secondary causes, TEE, survey for hypercoagulable states, and a look at cervicocephalic vessels. Among these, age was the greatest risk factor for recurrence.

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