• Agata Porebska, Przemyslaw Nowacki, Krzysztof Safranow, and Marta Nowik.
• Department of Neurology, University Hospital, Pomeranian Medical University of Szczecin, Unii Lubelskiej 1 Street, 71-252 Szczecin, Poland. agatka104@yahoo.com
• Clin Neurol Neurosurg. 2008 May 1;110(5):434-40.

ObjectivesThe purpose of the present study was to evaluate whether blood flow in the middle cerebral arteries (MCAs) in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) during acute ischemic stroke is disturbed, as well as to assess if potential disturbances result from arrhythmia rather than a consequence of an embolus within the cerebral circulation.Patients And MethodsA total of 180 subjects were included in the study; 90 consecutive patients with AF and 90 consecutive patients in sinus rhythm who were admitted to the Stroke Unit of the Department of Neurology at Pomeranian Medical University Hospital in Szczecin, Poland within 24h of the onset of ischemic stroke symptoms. During the acute phase of the stroke (24h), all patients underwent transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD) with assessment of mean blood flow velocity (MV) in the MCAs.ResultsWe observed significantly lower values of MV in MCAs of both damaged and intact hemispheres in patients with AF as compared to patients in sinus rhythm.ConclusionIn patients with AF, hemodynamic disturbances occur within the cerebral circulation during acute ischemic stroke which can cause a more severe course and worse stroke outcome. AF patients need more appropriate prevention of stroke, as well as more efficient treatment during acute ischemic stroke.

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