BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The relative frequency of computed tomographic evidence of old cerebral infarctions without prior history of stroke, and their effect on short- and long-term outcome of patients with first-ever ischemic stroke, are currently unknown. Silent infarctions may relate to specific risk factors and may influence the rate of survival free of handicap. METHODS We studied the pre...

BACKGROUND The incidence and impact of clinical stroke and silent radiographic cerebral infarction complicating open surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR) are poorly characterized. METHODS AND RESULTS We performed a prospective cohort study of subjects ≥65 years of age who were undergoing AVR for calcific aortic stenosis. Subjects were evaluated by neurologists preoperatively and postoperat...

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia and it may be symptomatic (manifest), or asymptomatic (silent). Silent AF is much more common than manifest AF. Both paroxysmal (PAF) and persistent AF confer a risk of embolic stroke. Increased left atrial (LA) size is associated with an increased prevalence of non-valvular AF and could be a predictor of stroke. Relationship betwee...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Silent cerebral infarction is often found on computed tomographic scan in patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis, but its relation to the arterial stenosis is uncertain. METHODS We compared computed tomographic scans and carotid Doppler in 115 patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis, 203 with carotid transient ischemic attacks and carotid stenosis, and 63 with ...

BACKGROUND Stroke thrombolysis-related intracerebral hemorrhage may occur remotely from the anatomical site of ischemia. One postulated mechanism for this is simultaneous multiple embolization with hemorrhage into a "silent" area of ischemia. RESULTS A patient suffered a disabling stroke affecting the right cerebral hemisphere. He was treated with intravenous alteplase and underwent extensive...

Silent myocardial infarction is a little-known phenomenon, the mechanisms of which have still remained unclear. Herein, we presented the case of a middle-aged man suffering from silent myocardial infarction who presented with homonymous hemianopia and no other major cardiovascular risk factors, except for stage 1 hypertension.

INTRODUCTION Ischemic hypoxic brain injury often causes irreversible brain damage. The cascade of events leading to neuronal injury and death in ischemia includes the release of cytokines and free radicals, and induction of inflammation, apoptosis, and excitotoxicity. Reperfusion of ischemic areas could exacerbate ischemic brain damage through the generation of reactive oxygen species. The lack...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism (PE) prove venous embolic activity and enforce the suspicion of paradoxical embolism in patients with stroke with patent foramen ovale. Because it has implications in secondary prevention, we investigated the frequency of silent PE in such a cohort of patients. METHODS Patients with cryptogenic stroke or transient ischemic att...

BACKGROUND The detection of early neuropsychological abnormalities as precursors of cognitive decline of vascular origin in patients with lacunar stroke is a subject of increasing interest. The objective of this study was to assess whether there were differences in the performance of a battery of neuropsychological tests in first-ever lacunar stroke patients with and without associated silent m...