Case studyChronic kidney disease is independently associated with acute recurrent cerebral infarct in patients with atrial fibrillation

- Recurrence of ischemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation occurred a median of 5 days after index stroke.
- In hospital recurrence of ischemic stroke occurred in 13% of patients with atrial fibrillation.
- Chronic kidney disease is independently associated with recurrence of ischemic stroke.

Background and purposeThe present study aimed to determine the frequency and time of recurrent cerebral infarct (RCI) in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and atrial fibrillation (AF), and to clarify associated factors.MethodsWe retrospectively assessed and compared the clinical features of 79 consecutive patients (male, n = 56; median age, 75 y; median baseline NIHSS, 4) who were hospitalized due to AIS accompanied by AF, and who did or did not develop RCI between January 2012 and March 2015.ResultsDirect oral anticoagulants were administered to 59% of the patients after a median of two days from the onset of the index stroke. Stroke recurred in 10 (13%) of the 79 patients about 5 days after admission. The proportion of men was lower (30% vs. 77%, P = 0.005) and the patients were older (82 vs. 75 y, P = 0.049) in the group with RCI. Chronic kidney disease was significantly more prevalent in the group with RCI (50% vs. 16%, P = 0.025) and independently associated with RCI (OR, 6.59; 95%CI, 1.19-36.63; P = 0.031).ConclusionsWe found that RCI frequently develops about 5 days after admission in patients with AIS and AF and that chronic kidney disease is independently associated with RCI.