Pathophysiology and Risk of Atrial Fibrillation Detected After Ischemic Stroke

NCT ID: NCT03275155

Last Updated: 2025-04-01

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
• Total Enrollment: 100 participants
• Study Classification: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2017-04-18
• Study Completion Date: 2026-05-07

Brief Summary

This prospective non-interventional cohort study investigates the pathophysiology of Atrial Fibrillation Detected After Stroke or transient ischemic attack (AFDAS) by comparing the autonomic function and inflammation between patients with AFDAS, patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) diagnosed before the ischemic event or known AF (KAF), and patients with normal sinus rhythm (NSR) after 14 day of cardiac monitoring following the event onset.

Detailed Description

This study enrolls patients with acute ischemic stroke at the London Health Sciences Center in London, Ontario, Canada. The heart rhythm of the patients is monitored with a CardioSTAT® Holter device (Icentia) for 14 days after the ischemic event onset. Based on this cardiac monitoring and previous medical history, patients are stratified into three groups: (a) atrial fibrillation detected after stroke or transient ischemic attack (AFDAS), (b) atrial fibrillation diagnosed before the ischemic event or known AF (KAF), and (c) normal sinus rhythm (NSR).

Autonomic function is assessed by the levels of plasma catecholamines, a battery of validated autonomic tests [autonomic reflex screening (ARS)], heart rate variability (HRV) through data obtained by Holter monitoring by standard quantitative analysis methods according to the guidelines of the European Society of Cardiology and the North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology and by the analysis of diurnal variation of heart rate. Blood samples are collected for the analysis of inflammatory markers (e.g. CRP, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6), and potential AFDAS predictors such as brain natriuretic peptide (BNP- AFDAS biomarker), endothelin-1 (endothelial dysfunction marker), Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] and thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) plasma levels, TAFI activity, TAFI single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), apo(a) isoform size and plasma catecholamines levels. Furthermore, specific neuroimaging findings (e.g., specific regions of the insula or its connections) and clinical features (e.g., impaired interoceptive processing, cognitive impairment, etc) are also analyzed. Interoception is assessed using a heartbeat detection task without feedback condition and gait, balance, frailty, and cognitive status in patients are evaluated by the administration of a battery of tests. Stroke recurrence will be assessed by a structured phone interview at 6 and 12 months after the initial stroke.

Conditions

Stroke, Ischemic; Transient Ischemic Attack; Atrial Fibrillation

Study Design

• Observational Model Type: COHORT
• Study Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

AFDAS

patients without history of atrial fibrillation before the qualifying stroke or transient ischemic attack who are diagnosed with atrial fibrillation during the 14 days of monitoring

No interventions assigned to this group

KAF

atrial fibrillation known before the stroke or transient ischemic attack

No interventions assigned to this group

NSR

patients without a history of atrial fibrillation who do not develop atrial fibrillation during the 14 days of cardiac monitoring

No interventions assigned to this group

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

1. MCA territory-transient ischemic attack or -acute ischemic stroke patients seen in the Emergency Department or admitted to University Hospital, London, Ontario, Canada

2. Age ≥ 18 years old

3. Patient or Substitute Decision Maker must give written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria

1. Patients with autonomic dysfunction such as Parkinson's disease that can be interfering with outcome assessment based on qualified investigator's judgment.

2. Patients taking tricyclic antidepressant (TCAs)

3. Patients in whom the acute stroke is primarily hemorrhagic

4. Patients with both TIA and atrial fibrillation

5. Patients with both TIA and large vessel disease

6. Patients with inflammatory diseases

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Western University, Canada

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

London Health Sciences Centre

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Parkwood Hospital, London, Ontario

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

El Instituto de Neurociencia Cognitiva y Traslacional (INCYT)

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role: collaborator

Instituto de Neurologia Cognitiva (INECO)

UNKNOWN

Sponsor Role: collaborator

London Health Sciences Centre Research Institute OR Lawson Research Institute of St. Joseph's

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Luciano A Sposato, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Lawson Health Research Institute, London Health Sciences Center, Western University

Locations

University Hospital, London Helath Sciences Center

London, Ontario, Canada

Countries

Canada

Other Identifiers

R-17-032

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id