81
Views
24
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Original Research

Silent cerebral infarction in chronic heart failure: Ischemic and nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy

, , , , , , , & show all
Pages 463-469 | Published online: 11 Apr 2008

Abstract

Objectives

Patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) may have a high incidence of clinically asymptomatic silent cerebral infarction (SCI). Prevalence of SCI and its risk factors may differ between ischemic and nonischemic DCM. The purpose of this study was to evaluate prevalence and related parameters of silent cerebral infarction in patients with ischemic and nonischemic DCM.

Methods

Patients with ischemic and nonischemic DCM (53 male, 19 female, aged 62 ± 12 years) were included in the study. Etiology of DCM was ischemic in 46 and nonischemic in 26 patients. Fifty-six age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers served as a control group for comparison of SCI prevalence.

Results

Prevalence of SCI was 39%, 27%, and 3.6% in ischemic, nonischemic DCM, and control group, respectively (ischemic DCM vs control group, p < 0.001, nonischemic DCM vs control group, p = 002). In patients with nonischemic DCM, the mean age of the subjects with SCI was significantly higher than that of subjects without lesions (67 ± 5 years vs 53 ± 13, p < 0.001), whereas in ischemic DCM NHYA Functional Class was statistically higher in patients with SCI than without SCI (p = 0.03). In both groups, patients with SCI had lower systolic functions than patients with normal MRI findings. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, restrictive type of diastolic filling pattern was found as an independent factor for SCI occurrence on the whole patient population (OR: 16.5, 95% CI: 4.4–61.8, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

SCI is common in patients with both ischemic and nonischemic DCM. In univariate analysis, both groups have similar systolic and diastolic characteristics in the occurrence of SCI. Logistic regression analysis revealed that restrictive diastolic filling pattern is an independent risk factor in the occurrence of SCI for the whole patient population.

A silent cerebral infarction (SCI) is classified as a type III cerebrovascular disorder by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (CitationNINDS 1990). In the general population, prevalence of SCI varies between 10% and 28%, whereas in patients with stroke it is as high as 38% (CitationKase et al 1989; CitationRicci et al 1993; CitationPrice et al 1997; CitationHoward et al 1998; CitationVermeer et al 2002). SCI was identified as a risk factor for clinical stroke (CitationKobayashi et al 1997). It may be related to dementia, cognitive deficits, and depression (CitationYamashita et al 2001; CitationMaeshima et al 2002; CitationLiebetrau et al 2004). To prevent SCI, it is important to know its related factors, especially preventable or treatable risk factors.

Ischemic and nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathies are important reasons for chronic heart failure (CitationDouglas et al 2004). Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is associated with an increased risk of thromboembolism because of low output state, relative stasis of blood in a dilated chamber, and altered coagulation status (CitationKoniaris and Goldhaber 1998). The reported incidence of thromboembolism in the chronic heart failure population varies widely, ranging from 2.7% to 22% (CitationCleland 1997). The prevalence of silent ischemic stroke was 34% in patients with heart failure (CitationSiachos et al 2005). The prevalence of SCI, related risk factors, and characteristics may differ between patients with ischemic and nonischemic cardiomyopathies. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and related parameters of SCI in patients with ischemic and nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathies.

Methods

Patient selection

Ninety patients with DCM, with New York Heart Association (NYHA) II-IV Functional Classification, diagnosed according to WHO criteria (CitationWHO 1996) were recruited for the study. Patients with poor acoustic window, heart valve disease with hemodynamic significance, atrial fibrillation, uncontrolled ventricular arrythmias, atrio ventricular block, previous transient ischemic attack or stroke, or neurological deficit secondary to cerebral pathology were excluded from the study (n = 18). The remaining 72 patients (53 males, 19 females; mean age 62 ± 12 years) comprised the study group. Etiology of the DCM was investigated by coronary angiography in all patients. All patients underwent coronary angiography to determine coronary artery disease before magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies.

Forty-six of the patients had ischemic dilated cardiomyopathies and 26 had nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathies. In all patients, left ventricular enlargement (end-diastolic diameter ≥56 mm) and systolic dysfunction (ejection fraction ≤45%) were documented by 2-dimensional and M-mode echocardiography.

Fifty-six, age- and gender-matched healthy volunteers (36 males, 20 females; mean age 61 ± 10 years) were accepted as a control group after routine clinical and laboratory evaluation.

The study was conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Study protocol was approved by the local ethics committee and subjects gave informed consent prior to study entry.

Echocardiography

Transthoracic 2-dimensional and Doppler echocardiographic assessments were performed by a Toshiba SSA-390 A ultrasound machine using a 2.5 MHz transducer. Measurements of the left atrium, and left and right ventricles were obtained from parasternal long axis view as recommended by the American Society of Echocardiography (CitationSahn et al 1978). Left ventricular ejection fraction was calculated using the modified Simpson’s rule in the apical 2- and 4-chamber views. Spontaneous echo contrast in the left ventricle (LVSEC) was categorized as ‘present‘ or ‘absent’ by harmonic imaging. Mitral flow pattern was evaluated from the apical 4-chamber view with pulsed-wave Doppler by placing a sample volume at the tips of mitral leaflets during diastole. Early (E) and atrial (A) peak velocities, the E/A ratio, deceleration time of early filling, isovolumic relaxation time, and pulmonary vein flow pattern were measured on three separate beats and averaged. Four types of diastolic filling pattern were considered: normal filling, relaxation abnormality, pseudonormal pattern, and restrictive filling. Left atrial maximum and minimum volumes (LAVmax and LAVmin) were determined from orthogonal apical views using biplane area-length method. Left atrial total emptying fraction was estimated as follows: 100× (LAVmax−LAVmin)/LAVmax.

There were good agreements between the two independent observers’ measurements of ejection fraction (r = 0.90, mean difference ± 4%) and grade of spontaneous echo contrast (r = 0.91), and between the two measurements made by the investigator (ejection fraction: r = 0.98, mean difference ± 2%; spontaneous echo contrast: r = 0.99).

Blood samples

Fasting blood samples were drawn from a large antecubital vein of each patient for detecting biochemical and hemostatic parameters before transthoracic echocardiography examination. White blood cells and platelets counts, and hematocrit, lipid, creatin, C-reactive protein levels, and sedimentation rate were measured by standard methods. The plasma fibrinogen was measured by the STA Compact auto analyser using the STA® – Fibrinogen kit.

Neurological examination and brain magnetic resonance imaging

Neurological examination of the study and control groups was performed by a qualified neurologist. Patients and control group were examined with MRI to detect SCI. Cerebral MRI was performed on a 1.5-T MR scanner (Philips Intera Master, Eindhoven, Netherlands) using a standard quadrature head coil. After obtaining scout images, routine imaging was performed. Our routine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) protocol for cerebral disease includes axial dual echo TSE, axial FLAIR, axial T1-weighted TSE, sagittal T2-weighted TSE, and coronal T2-weighted TSE images. All images were acquired with a field of view of 230 × 230 mm, and a section thickness of 5 mm with a 1-mm intersection gap.

A neuroradiologist, kept unaware of the clinical status of the patients, reviewed hard copies of the images. SCI was defined as a focal hyper-intense lesion >5 mm in diameter both on T2-weighted and FLAIR images, which was also hypo-intense on T1-weighted images. Periventricular hyper-intense lesions, subcortical patchy, or confluent hyper-intense lesions were not included (CitationMaeshima et al 2002).

Statistical analysis

Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 13.0 software. Results are expressed as mean ± standard deviation. The frequency of SCI in patients and control groups was compared with results from a chi-square test. Continuous variables of the patients with and without SCI were compared by unpaired Student t-test. If necessary, the Mann Whitney U test was used instead of Student t-test and categorical variables were compared with the chi-square test. Interaction between parameters that could be relevant for the formation of SCI was calculated by multivariate forward stepwise logistic regression analysis, adjusting for age, ejection fraction, restrictive diastolic filling, and coronary artery disease. A p value <0.05 was considered significant.

Results

Demographic, clinical, and echocardiographic characteristics of patients with ischemic and nonischemic DCM are shown in . Prevalence of SCI was 39%, 27%, and 3.6% in ischemic, nonischemic DCM, and the control group, respectively (ischemic DCM vs control group, p < 0.001; nonischemic DCM vs control group, p = 002).

Table 1 Demographic, clinical, and echocardiographic characteristics of patients with ischemic and nonischemic DCM

Ischemic DCM patients with and without SCI

As demonstrated in , the NYHA Functional Classification was statistically different in patients with and without SCI (p = 0.03). Among ischemic DCM patients, the number of males with SCI was higher than those without SCI, but the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.059). Other variables including age, body mass index, medical treatment, the prevalence of coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia were not statistically different in both groups (some data are not shown).

Table 2 Demographic, clinical, hematological, and biochemical parameters of ischemic DCM patients with and without SCI

Patients with SCI had lower hematocrit levels and higher creatinine levels than those without SCI (p = 0.054, p = 0.017, respectively). Although fibrinogen level was higher in the SCI group than the other group, the difference was not statistically significant (4.58 ± 0.61 vs 4.36 ± 0.98 g/L) ().

The echocardiographic findings are summarized in . End-diastolic and end-systolic left ventricular dimensions, left atrium size, and LV-SEC was similar between two groups. However, the ejection fraction and cardiac index were lower in patients with SCI than without SCI (p = 0.03, p = 0.01, respectively). The percentage of restrictive diastolic filling pattern was higher in patients with SCI than without SCI in ischemic DCM (p < 0.001).

Table 3 Echocardiographic parameters of ischemic DCM patients with and without SCI

Nonischemic DCM patients with SCI and without SCI

The mean age was higher in patients with SCI than without SCI (67 ± 5 vs 53 ± 13 years, p < 0.001). No significant difference was observed between two groups with respect to gender, NYHA Functional Classification, or body mass index. The other variables including medical treatment, the prevalence of coronary artery disease, hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia were not statistically different in both groups (data are not shown).

The echocardiographic parameters that were observed in two groups are shown in . Left ventricular systolic function-related parameters such as ejection fraction and systolic shortening were lower in patients with SCI, whereas cardiac chambers dimensions, as well as presence of LV-SEC, were not different between the groups. Percentage of restrictive diastolic filling pattern was higher in patients with SCI than without SCI in nonischemic DCM (p = 0.017). Although nonischemic DCM patients with SCI had higher fibrinogen levels than the other group, the difference was not statistically significant (4.60 ± 1.10 vs 4.24 ± 1.26 g/L).

Table 4 Echocardiographic parameters of nonischemic DCM patients with and without SCI

Multiple logistic regression analysis

In multivariable logistic regression analysis, restrictive type of diastolic filling pattern was found as an independent factor for SCI occurrence for the whole patient population (OR: 16.5, 95% CI: 4.4–61.8, p < 0.001).

Discussion

SCI was observed in 39% of patients with ischemic DCM. Higher NHYA Functional Classification, lower ejection fraction and cardiac index, decreased hematocrit level, and increased creatinine level were determinants for SCI in this patient group.

A heart failure group was investigated by CitationSiachos and colleagues (2005) for SCI. The prevalence of silent stroke was 34% in this patient group. The group comprised nonischemic and ischemic cardiomyopathy patients. Traditional risk factors such as age, gender, history of hypertension, and diabetes mellitus were not predictive for silent stroke in heart failure patients. Their findings were similar to our data. Among all our patients, the prevalence of SCI was 35% (CitationKozdag et al 2006).

In the general population, prevalence of SCI varies between 10% and 28%, whereas in patients with stroke it is as high as 38% (CitationKase et al 1989; CitationRicci et al 1993; CitationPrice et al 1997; CitationHoward et al 1998; CitationVermeer et al 2002). Our patient group had higher prevalence of SCI than the general population but had a similar prevalence for SCI as patients with stroke. This finding is very interesting for this patient group. It is known that coronary artery disease and cerebrovascular disease frequently coexist and have similar risk factors. A patient with ischemic stroke usually has coronary artery disease and its manifestations (CitationSandercock et al 1989). Patients with a history of coronary artery disease events show a tendency to have higher cerebrovascular events than those without a history of coronary artery disease events (CitationReicher-Reiss et al 1998). Advanced SCI also may relate to common coronary artery disease (CitationHoshide et al 2001). Our findings agree with the above-mentioned data for cerebrovascular disease in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy who have coronary artery disease and high prevalence of SCI. It may be speculated for this patient group that unknown hemodynamic variations, low output states, silent atrial arrhythmias, cardiac catheterization, and advanced atherosclerosis may either decrease cranial blood flow or increase embolic events in patients with ischemic DCM.

The present study showed that higher NHYA Functional Classification was related to SCI only in ischemic DCM. As expected, patients with poor functional status who have SCI also have decreased cardiac index, lower ejection fraction, impaired renal function, and low hematocrit level. Decreased ejection fraction in females was shown as a risk factor for overt strokes in large heart failure trials (CitationDries et al 1997). The Survival and Ventricular Enlargement (SAVE) trial (CitationPfeffer et al 1992) reported the incidence of stroke as 1.5/100 patient-years in patients who had left ventricular dysfunction after acute myocardial infarction. Patients with ejection fractions of ≤28% after myocardial infarction had a relative risk of stroke of 1.86 compared with patients with ejection fractions >35%, and an 18% increase in the risk of stroke was documented for every 5% decrease in ejection fraction (CitationLoh et al 1997). Decreased ejection fraction seems an important determinant for overt stroke and SCI in patients with coronary artery disease.

CitationBüsing and colleagues (2005) prospectively evaluated patients who had undergone cardiac catheterization with MRI studies before and after the procedure. It was found that 15% patients had new SCIs after the procedure. There was no relevant difference with regard to pre-existing cardiovascular abnormalities such as impaired ejection fraction and arrythmias. Only duration of cardiac catheterization was found as an independent predictor of occurrence of cerebral infarction (CitationBüsing et al 2005). The rate of SCI after cardiac catheterization seems to be higher than it is for clinically symptomatic stroke which was reported as 0.11% (CitationSegal et al 2001). Similarly, patients with coronary bypass grafting had increased incidence of SCI (CitationFriday et al 2005). Besides low output states and advanced atherosclerosis, those procedures mentioned above may contribute to occurrence of SCI. It may be speculated that a patient with ischemic DCM who has high NHYA Functional Classification, relatively decreased systolic function, impaired renal function, and lower hematocrit level has a higher risk of developing SCI than a patient without those characteristics. We may include the cardiac catheterization procedure and coronary bypass grafting are risks factors in this patient group.

SCI was determined in 27% of patients with nonischemic DCM. Older age and impaired systolic function were found as the determinants for SCI in this group. According to previous studies, the occurrence of SCI increases with age (CitationLongstreth et al 2002; CitationVermeer et al 2002). In the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study, the prevalence of SCI was 7.9% in patients between 55 and 59 years of age and 22.9% in those between 65 and 72 years of age (CitationBryan et al 1999). Kotani and colleagues (2004) studied an elderly population whose mean age was 77.5 ± 8.7 years. They observed SCI in 48% of their elderly population (CitationKotani et al 2004). Schmidt and colleagues (1991) observed cerebral infarcts in 20% of 20 neurologically asymptomatic patients with idiopathic DCM. Their patients were younger than our patients and Kotani’s patients. In the present study, older patients with nonischemic DCM had more SCI lesions than younger patients. The prevalence of SCI increased with age in the previous studies in agreement with our finding. It seems that increased age is important for occurrence of SCI. As expected, the older patients had greater risk than younger patients for occurrence of SCI in the present study.

Patients with nonischemic DCM had similar characteristics as those with ischemic DCM, such as an enlarged cardiac chamber, systolic impairment, stagnant blood, and silent atrial arrhythmias for SCI. Impaired systolic function parameters such as decreased left ventricular ejection fraction and systolic shortening were observed in this patient group. All these parameters may cause silent embolic events to brain in this patient group, as does ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Multivariable analysis showed that restrictive filling pattern was an independent risk factor for occurrence of SCI. Restrictive filling pattern in mitral flow is a marker for markedly impaired left ventricular filling and may show atrial systolic failure (CitationVanoverschelde et al 1990). Either left atrial systolic failure or stagnant milieu in the left atrium may cause embolic events. Enlarged and dysfunctional left atrium may cause silent arrythymias such as atrial fibrillation in patients with ischemic and nonischemic DCM.

Implications

The present study showed that both groups have similar characteristics for the occurrence of SCI such as impaired systolic function and restrictive filling pattern. Ischemic DCM patients with SCI had advanced disease stage characteristics such as increased creatinine level and decreased hematocrite level compared with patients without SCI. Nonischemic DCM patients with SCI were older than those without SCI. It was shown that left ventricular diastolic filling characteristics were correlated with NYHA Functional Class (CitationNINDS 1990). Ischemic DCM patients with SCI had higher NYHA Functional Class than patients without SCI and restrictive filling pattern in the present study. Advanced disease stage characteristics may be important for the occurrence of SCI. It may be important to prevent or immediately treat decompensation of heart failure, renal failure, and anemia in this patient group. Freudenberger suggested that left ventricular dysfunction needs more aggressive treatment and the physician has to be alert for silent atrial fibrillation episodes for a patient with chronic heart failure (CitationFreudenberger and Massie 2005). Patients who have dilated cardiomyopathy usually undergo cardiac catheterization for the etiology of the disease. This procedure may increase the occurrence of SCI in patients with DCM when compared to patients who do not have the procedure. This patient population requires extra careful attention their treatment to prevent occurrence of overt stroke. Patients with advanced-stage disease characteristics may take anticoagulation therapy to prevent overt stroke in ischemic DCM. Older patients who have decreased ejection fraction, fractional shortening, and restrictive filling pattern may be given anticoagulation therapy to protect them from stroke in nonischemic DCM. It was determined that 3-year mortality rate was increased by symptomatic and silent infarcts in elderly people (CitationLiebetrau et al 2004). Patients with SCI may have a higher mortality rate than those without SCI in DCM. Follow-up studies are necessary to determine the relation between mortality and SCI in patients with DCM.

Study limitations

Because MRI is an expensive tool for investigation, a small patient numbers were included in the present study. Our data will support other research which should include more patients than did our research.

Disclosure

The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

References

  • BryanRNCaiJBurkeGPrevalence and anatomic characteristics of infarct-like lesions on MR images of middle-aged adults: the atherosclerosis risk in communities studyAJNR Am J Neuroradiol19992012738010472985
  • BüsingKASchulte-SasseCFlüchterSCerebral infarction: incidence and risk factors after diagnostic and interventional cardiac catheterization – prospective evaluation at diffusion-weighted MR imagingRadiology20052351778315731373
  • ClelandJGAnticoagulant and antiplatelet therapy in heart failureCurr Opin Cardiol199712276879243085
  • DouglasLMBozkurtBMannDLHeart FailureHeart Failure as a Consequence of Dilated Cardiomyopathy2004PhiledelphiaElsevier36389
  • DriesDLRosenbergYDWaclawiwMAEjection fraction and risk of thromboembolic events in patients with systolic dysfunction and sinus rhythm: evidence for gender differences in the studies of left ventricular dysfunction trialsJ Am Coll Cardiol1997291074809120162
  • FreudenbergerRSMassieBMSilent cerebral infarction in heart failure: vascular or thromboembolic?J Card Fail200511485916198241
  • FridayGSutterFCurtinABrain magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities following off-pump cardiac surgeryHeart Surg Forum200581059
  • HoshideSKarioKMitsuhashiTDifferent patterns of silent cerebral infarct in patients with coronary artery disease or hypertensionAHJ20011450915
  • HowardGWagenknechtLECaiJCigarette smoking and other risk factors for silent cerebral infarction in the general populationStroke199829913179596234
  • KaseCSWolfPAChodoshEHPrevalence of silent stroke in patients presenting with initial stroke: the Framingham studyStroke19892085022749843
  • KobayashiSOkadaKKoideHSubcortical silent brain infarction as a risk factor for clinical strokeStroke199728193299341698
  • KoniarisLSGoldhaberSZAnticoagulation in dilated cardiomyopathyJ Am Coll Cardiol1998374589525541
  • KotaniKOsakiYSakaneNRisk factors for silent cerebral infarction in the elderlyArch Med Res200435522415631878
  • KozdagGCiftciEVuralASilent cerebral infarction in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy:echocardiographic correlatesInt J Cardiol20061073768115913815
  • LiebetrauMSteenBHamannGFSilent and symptomatic infarcts on cranial computerized tomography in relation to dementia and mortality: a population-based study in 85-year-old subjectsStroke20043518162015205488
  • LohESuttonMSWunCCVentricular dysfunction and the risk of stroke after myocardial infarctionEngl J Med19973362517
  • LongstrethWTJrDulbergCManolioTAIncidence, manifestations, and predictors of brain infarcts defined by serial cranial magnetic resonance imaging in the elderly: the Cardiovascular Health StudyStroke20023323768212364724
  • MaeshimaSMoriwakiHOzakiFSilent cerebral infarction and cognitive function in middle-aged neurologically healthy subjectsActa Neurol Scand20021051798411886361
  • [NINDS] National Institute of Neurological Disorders and StrokeClassification of cerebrovascular diseases IIIStroke199021637762326846
  • PfefferMABraunwaldEMoyeLAEffect of captopril on mortality and morbidity in patients with left ventricular dysfunction after myocardial infarction. Results of the survival and ventricular enlarge-ment trial. The SAVE InvestigatorsN Engl J Med1992327669771386652
  • PriceTRManolioTAKronmalRASilent brain infarction on magnetic resonance imaging and neurological abnormalities in community-dwelling older adults. The cardiovascular health study. CHS Collaborative Research GroupStroke1997281158649183343
  • Reicher-ReissHJonasMTanneDPrognostic significance of cerebrovascular disease in 11,526 chronic coronary artery disease patients. Bezafibrate Infarction Prevention (BIP) Study GroupAm J Cardiol1998821532359874062
  • [WHO] World Health OrganizationReport of the 1995 World health Organization. International society and federation of cardiology. Task-force on the definition and classification of cardiomyopathyCirculation19969384128598070
  • RicciSCelaniMGLa RosaFSilent brain infarctions in patients with first-ever stroke. A community-based study in Umbria, ItalyStroke199324647518488518
  • SahnDJDeMariaAKissloJThe committee on M-mode standardization of the American society of echocardiographyRecommendations regarding quantitation in M-mode echocardiography: results of a survey of echocardiographic measurementsCirculation197858107283709763
  • SandercockPAWarlowCPJonesLNPredisposing factors for cerebral infarction: the Oxfordshire community stroke projectBMJ198929875802493301
  • SchmidtRFazekasFOffenbacherHBrain magnetic resonance imaging and neuropsychologic evaluation of patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathyStroke19912219592003283
  • SegalAZAbernethyWBPalaciosIFStroke as a complication ofcardiac catheterization: risk factors and clinical featuresNeurology200156975711294941
  • SiachosTVanbakelAFeldmanDSSilent strokes in patients with heart failureJ Card Fail2005114859016198241
  • VanoverscheldeJLRaphaelDARobertARLeft ventricular filling in dilated cardiomyopathy: relation to functional class and hemodynamicsJ Am Coll Cardiol1990151288952329234
  • VermeerSEKoudstaalPJOudkerkMPrevalence and risk factors of silent brain infarcts in the population based Rotterdam scan studyStroke20023321511779883
  • YamashitaHFujikawaTYanaiIClinical features and treatment response of patients with major depression and silent cerebral infarctionNeuropsychobiology2001441768211702017