Embolic strokes of undetermined source comprise a subset of cryptogenic ischemic strokes. It is thought that some embolic strokes of undetermined source could be due to left atrial thromboembolism without atrial fibrillation. The authors sought to determine whether a marker of left atrial pathological changes could pose as a surrogate marker of nonarrhythmogenic atrial thromboembolism in emboli...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Although left atrial enlargement (LAE) increases incident stroke risk, the association with recurrent stroke is less clear. Our aim was to determine the association of LAE with recurrent stroke most likely related to embolism (cryptogenic and cardioembolic) and all ischemic stroke recurrences. METHODS We followed 655 first ischemic stroke patients in the Northern Manhat...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Occult paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) is found in a substantial minority of patients with cryptogenic stroke. Identifying reliable predictors of paroxysmal AF after cryptogenic stroke would allow clinicians to more effectively use outpatient cardiac monitoring and ultimately reduce secondary stroke burden. METHODS We analyzed a retrospective cohort of consecutive p...

BACKGROUND The characteristics of atrial fibrillation (AF) episodes in cryptogenic stroke patients have recently been explored in carefully selected patient populations. However, the incidence of AF among a large, real-world population of patients with an insertable cardiac monitor (ICM) placed for the detection of AF following a cryptogenic stroke has not been investigated. METHODS Patients ...

BACKGROUND Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has a broad spectrum of manifestation, ranging from silent carrier state to advanced cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The persistence of HBV DNA in serum and hepatocytes of the cirrhotic patient could be detected by molecular techniques in spite of negative HBV serologic markers. OBJECTIVES This case-control study was designed to eva...

BACKGROUND Atrial fibrillation (AF) can be a cause of previously diagnosed cryptogenic stroke. However, AF can be paroxysmal and asymptomatic, thereby making detection with routine ECG methods difficult. Oral anticoagulation is highly effective in reducing recurrent stroke in patients with AF, but its initiation is dependent on the detection of AF. Cryptogenic Stroke and Underlying Atrial Fibri...

OBJECTIVE To investigate the role of occupational and domestic exposure to dust in the aetiology of cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis. DESIGN Matched case-control study. SUBJECTS 40 Patients with cryptogenic fibrosing alveolitis and 106 community controls matched for age and sex who responded to a questionnaire. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE Responses to self administered questionnaire asking about...

BACKGROUND AND AIM Patients with intrahepatic portal hypertension and negative etiological work-up for liver disease are often labeled as having cryptogenic cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate causes of liver disease in patients with unexplained intrahepatic portal hypertension. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed cause of liver disease in all patients with cryptogenic intrahepat...

Background and Purpose. Paroxysmal Atrial fibrillation/Flutter (PAF) detection rates in cryptogenic strokes have been variable. We sought to determine the percentage of patients with cryptogenic stroke who had PAF on prolonged non-invasive cardiac monitoring. Methods and Results. Sixty-two consecutive patients with stroke and TIA in a single center with a mean age of 61 (+/- 14) years were anal...

Massive cryptogenic hemoptysis is a common presenting symptom and cause of hospitalization for respiratory diseases, and represents a challenging condition in the clinical. This study aimed to analyze the clinical and pathologic data and management of patients with massive cryptogenic hemoptysis. We retrospectively reviewed 12 patients with massive cryptogenic hemotysis in our hospital between ...