Background: Cryptogenic stroke (CS) is symptomatic cerebral infarct with no identifiable cause after adequate diagnostic workup. Subclinical atrial arrhythmias are increasingly recognized as a source of CS.
Aim of the Study: This study is conducted to investigate the association between cryptogenic stroke and atrial tachyarrhythmias using 24-hour Holter monitoring.
Patients and Methods: This is a case control study that was conducted on a total of 30 adult patients with CS who were admitted at Mansoura University Hospital during the period From December 2019 to December 2021 as a case study group matched with another 40 normal persons as a control study group using 24-hour Holter monitoring.
Results: There is no statistically significant difference between studied groups as regard age, sex & history of previous stroke. There is statistically significant higher mean systolic blood pressure (BP) among cases than control group(p=0.02). There is no statistically significant difference between studied groups as regard Holter findings. Among cases, one case showed frequent premature atrial ectopics (PACs), one supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) run, frequent premature ventricular ectopics (PVCs), 2 cases showed runs of non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) and 3 cases(10% of cases) showed low burden atrial fibrillation(AF) runs.
Conclusion: 24- hour Holter monitoring could detect subclinical AF or other tachyarrhythmias in CS and could guide subsequent treatment as regard anticoagulants use. However, it could not be enough and longer duration of follow up is required.