Cardiac Arrhythmias and Abnormal Electrocardiograms After Acute Stroke

Doungporn Ruthirago; Parunyou Julayanont; Pakpoom Tantrachoti; Jongyeol Kim; Kenneth Nugent

doi:10.1016/j.amjms.2015.10.020

Cardiac Arrhythmias and Abnormal Electrocardiograms After Acute Stroke

Am J Med Sci. 2016 Jan;351(1):112-8. doi: 10.1016/j.amjms.2015.10.020.

Authors

Doungporn Ruthirago¹, Parunyou Julayanont², Pakpoom Tantrachoti³, Jongyeol Kim², Kenneth Nugent³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas. Electronic address: druthirago@gmail.com.
² Department of Neurology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas.
³ Department of Internal Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas.

PMID: 26802767
DOI: 10.1016/j.amjms.2015.10.020

Abstract

Cardiac arrhythmias and electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities occur frequently but are often underrecognized after strokes. Acute ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes in some particular area of brain can disrupt central autonomic control of the heart, precipitating cardiac arrhythmias, ECG abnormalities, myocardial injury and sometimes sudden death. Identification of high-risk patients after acute stroke is important to arrange appropriate cardiac monitoring and effective management of arrhythmias, and to prevent cardiac morbidity and mortality. More studies are needed to better clarify pathogenesis, localization of areas associated with arrhythmias and practical management of arrhythmias and abnormal ECGs after acute stroke.

Keywords: Abnormal electrocardiogram; Arrhythmia; Stroke; Sudden death.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Arrhythmias, Cardiac* / diagnosis
Arrhythmias, Cardiac* / epidemiology
Arrhythmias, Cardiac* / etiology
Arrhythmias, Cardiac* / therapy
Blood Pressure*
Electrocardiography
Heart Rate*
Humans
Incidence
Risk Assessment
Stroke / complications*