Left Atrial Strain Assessment in Ischemic Stroke Patients (ASSISTANT)

Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown

Status: Completed

Conditions: Ischemic Stroke; Left Atrial Strain; Sinus Rhythm

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07102693

CBH 024/23

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study is investigating a potential link between a novel measurement made on cardiac ultrasound and the risk of ischemic stroke in patients with a normal heart rhythm. The novel measurement is called left atrial strain. It uses speckle tracking echocardiography to measure the muscle function of the left atrium, one of the cardiac chambers. Investigators investigated whether patients with lower function of this chamber are at a higher risk of developing stroke from blood clots traveling to the brain. It is already known that patients with an irregular heart rhythm known as atrial fibrillation are at higher risk of these types of strokes. Investigators wanted to determine if there is a similar association in patients with normal heart rhythm but low left atrial strain.

Enrollment: 468 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Emergency department presentation with FAST positive symptoms
• Neuroimaging performed as part of stroke workup
• Echocardiogram performed during index admission

Exclusion criteria

• Any history of atrial fibrillation prior or during admission
• Age below 18 years of age
• No echocardiogram or echocardiogram images not of sufficient quality to perform left atrial strain analysis
• At least moderate mitral regurgitation
• ASD or PFO

Trial design

468 participants in 2 patient groups

Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke

Description:

Patients presenting to the emergency department with FAST positive symptoms who are proven to have acute ischaemic stroke on neuroimaging.

Patients without Acute Ischaemic Stroke

Description:

Patients presenting to the emergency department with FAST positive symptoms who do not have evidence of acute ischaemic stroke on neuroimaging and an alternative cause of their FAST symptoms is found