Abstract

ORTEGA GUTIERREZ, Adriana A. et al. Transesophageal echocardiographic changes in patients younger than 40 years with embolic stroke. Arch. Cardiol. Méx. [online]. 2001, vol.71, n.2, pp.136-140. ISSN 1665-1731.

The potential cardioembolic sources for ischemic stroke in patients younger than 40 years could be asymptomatic. The purpose of this study is to justify routine implementation of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in the study of young patients with ischemic stroke. Material and methods: 34 patients younger than 40 years with ischemic stroke were studied with TEE complemented with contrast study, looking for potential cardioembolic sources or intracardiac shunts. Results: 19 patiens were male and 15 female with ages between 18-40 years (average 31 years). None had cardiac signs or symptoms. Eleven anomalies were detected in 20 patients (58.8%); of these, only 3 were considered as probably coursing with cardioembolic sources: patent foramen ovale (PFO), mitral valve prolapse, and ventricular enlargement, which were found in 12 patients (35.29%). In patients with cardiovascular anomalies, we found a hypercoagulable state, associated in eight patients with PFO (four patients), two with valvular thickening, and two with valvular nodules. Conclusions: I n patients younger than 40 years with ischemic stroke, TEE is useful in detecting direct and indirect cardiac sources of embolism, even in those patients with unsuspected cardiac disease.

Keywords : Transesophageal echocardiography; Ischemic stroke; Cardioembolic source.