Subclinical Atrial Fibrillation Preceding Cardioembolic Stroke in a Patient with Systolic Heart Failure

Atrial fibrillation and congestive heart failure are risk factors for cerebral infarction. The most commonly used estimates of stroke risk in patients with atrial fibrillation are cardiac failure, hypertension, age, diabetes mellitus, and stroke (CHADS2 score) [1–4]. Although atrial fibrillation may be recognized by the presence of symptoms, such as palpitations, some patients are occasionally asymptomatic [5–7]. The absence of symptoms results in a delayed diagnosis, and may lead to fatal thromboembolic events.

Source: International Journal of Cardiology - August 13, 2014 Category: Cardiology Authors: Kihei Yoneyama, Tomoo Harada, Hidemichi Ito, Makoto Takano, Maya Tsukahara, Yukio Sato, Masashi Uchida, Satoru Nishio, Yoshihiro J. Akashi Source Type: research