What question did this study set out to answer?

To determine the frequency and composition of cerebral microemboli in prosthetic heart valve recipients and evaluate their association with cerebrovascular symptoms, inflammation, and coagulation markers.

February 22, 2008StrokeOpen Access

Solid Cerebral Microemboli and Cerebrovascular Symptoms in Patients With Prosthetic Heart Valves

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Why the study?

Does the presence of solid cerebral microemboli detected by transcranial Doppler correlate with cerebrovascular symptoms in patients with prosthetic heart valves?

Population

76 consecutive patients with a total of 81 prosthetic (54 mechanical, 27 biologic) heart valves.

Comparison

Detection of solid cerebral microemboli using… vs Absence of solid cerebral microemboli.

Design

Cohort

Follow-up

1 year

Authors

MSMona SkjellandOslo University Hospital AMAnnika E. MichelsenOslo University Hospital FBFrank BrosstadOslo University Hospital

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Solid microemboli may flag higher cerebrovascular risk in prosthetic valve patients; leaves open whether monitoring or targeted therapy improves outcomes.

Key Points

To determine the frequency and composition of cerebral microemboli in prosthetic heart valve recipients and evaluate their association with cerebrovascular symptoms, inflammation, and coagulation markers.
Monitored 76 consecutive patients with 81 prosthetic valves (54 mechanical, 27 biologic) using multifrequency transcranial Doppler ultrasonography 1 year after valve replacement.
Recorded cerebrovascular events occurring within the first postoperative year through formal neurological evaluation.
Measured circulating inflammation and coagulation markers, including monocyte chemotactic protein-1, using immunoassays.
Microemboli occurred exclusively in mechanical heart valve patients (28 of 54, 56%), with solid microemboli detected in 17 patients (34%).
Solid cerebral microemboli were the only factor independently associated with cerebrovascular symptoms in regression analysis (P=0.026).
Plasma monocyte chemotactic protein-1 levels were significantly elevated in patients with solid microemboli compared to those without (P=0.014).

Structured PICO

Does the presence of solid cerebral microemboli detected by transcranial Doppler correlate with cerebrovascular symptoms in patients with prosthetic heart valves?

Population

76 consecutive patients with a total of 81 prosthetic (54 mechanical, 27 biologic) heart valves.

Intervention

Detection of solid cerebral microemboli using multifrequency transcranial Doppler ultrasonography 1 year after valve replacement.

Comparator

Absence of solid cerebral microemboli.

Outcome

Frequency and composition of cerebral microemboli, and correlation with cerebrovascular symptoms, blood inflammation, and coagulation parameters.surrogate

Detection of solid cerebral microemboli by transcranial Doppler ultrasonography in patients with mechanical heart valves is associated with an increased risk of cerebrovascular events.

Cite This Study

Skjelland et al. (2008) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a99951e668d7cf0054b189e https://doi.org/10.1161/strokeaha.107.493031

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Implication

Solid microemboli may flag higher cerebrovascular risk in prosthetic valve patients; leaves open whether monitoring or targeted therapy improves outcomes.

Solid Cerebral Microemboli and Cerebrovascular Symptoms in Patients With Prosthetic Heart Valves

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Structured PICO

Cite This Study

Solid Cerebral Microemboli and Cerebrovascular Symptoms in Patients With Prosthetic Heart Valves

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Structured PICO

Cite This Study

Also Consider

Also Consider