Increased visceral adipose tissue as a potential risk factor in patients with embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS).

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

The etiology of an ischemic stroke remains undetermined in 20-35% of cases and many patients do not have any of the conventional risk factors. Increased visceral adipose tissue (VAT) is a suggested new risk factor for both carotid artery atherosclerosis (CAA) and atrial fibrillation (AF), but its role in the remaining stroke population is unknown. We assessed the amount of VAT in patients with embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) after excluding major-risk cardioembolic sources, occlusive atherosclerosis, and lacunar stroke.

Methods

Altogether 58 patients (mean age 57.7 ± 10.2 years, 44 men) with ischemic stroke of unknown etiology but without CAA, known AF or small vessel disease underwent computed tomography angiography and assessment of VAT. For comparison

SUBMITTER: Muuronen AT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4354901 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature