Segmental left ventricular hypokinesis is associated with embolic signals in transcranial Doppler

INTRODUCTION Global left ventricular (LV) hypokinesis is considered to be the cause of stroke, while the significance of segmental wall motion abnormalities is still unknown.
OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to determine the frequency of embolic signals in the middle cerebral artery in patients with segmental LV wall hypokinesis in the course of coronary artery disease (CAD) with and without stroke.
PATIENTS AND METHODS The study included 68 patients (aged 21–87 years) with segmental LV wall hypokinesis (33 patients without and 35 with stroke). The reference group comprised 30 patients (aged 43–76 years) with atherosclerotic risk factors; the control group comprised 37 healthy volunteers (aged 41–71 years). All subjects underwent echocardiography and carotid and transcranial Doppler ultrasound with the detection of microembolic signals.
RESULTS Embolic signals were observed significantly more often in patients with segmental LV wall hypokinesis than in the control and reference groups. In patients with CAD and stroke, an increased number of embolic signals (≥3) was observed significantly more often compared with patients without stroke. Compared with other locations, interventricular septum and apex hypokinesis was associated with a higher frequency of embolic signals in the middle cerebral arteries.
CONCLUSIONS Segmental LV motion abnormalities in the form of hypokinesis in patients with CAD are associated with the presence of embolic signals in the middle cerebral arteries, which may have clinical significance as a risk factor for stroke.