The Predictors of Cerebral infarction in Mitral Stenosis

Kim, Hyung Jun; Kim, Woong; Lee, Jong suk; Hong, Gue Ru; Park, Jong Seon; Sin, Dong Gu; Kim, Young Jo; Shim, Bong Sup

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Systemic embolism especially, cerebral infarction is one of the most important complications in patients with mitral stenosis. The authors analyse the some that could predict the development of cerebral infarction in cases of mitral stenosis and propose preventive therapeutic measures.
METHODS
Retrospective study of 127 patients with rheumatic mitral stenosis was performed by analysis their medical records for transthoracic(TTE) or transesophageal echocardiography(TEE) over a 12months period. The patients were divided into two groups according to the presence (Group I: n=26, age: 55+/-13 years) or absence (Group II: n=101, age: 48.5+/-13 years) of cerebral infarction. No significant difference was observed between the two groups with respect to sex and functional class.
RESULTS
Patients of group I were older (55.0+/-13 vs 48.5+/-13;p<0.05), had more dilated left atrial size(5.10+/-0.48 vs 4.81+/-0.70;p<0.05) and smaller mitral surface area(1.01+/-0.39 vs 1.21+/-0.45;p<0.05). In Group I, the incidence of atrial fibrillation(22 out of 26 vs 57 out of 101;p<0.05) and spontaneous left intra-atrial contrast phenomenon(22 out of 26 vs 44 out of 101;p<0.05) was more frequently observed. On multivariate analysis, atrial fibrillation and anticoagulant therapy were the independent predictive factors.
CONCLUSION
Age, left atrial dilatation, the severity of mitral stenosis, the presence of spontaneous contrast and especially the presence of atrial fibrillation are the main predictive factors of the development of cerebral infarction in mitral stenosis. Patients presenting one or several of these factors may benefit from prophylactic anticoagulant treatment.