Association of trans-myocardial repolarisation parameters with size of the diffusion limitation area in acute ischaemic stroke

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between transmyocardial repolarisation parameters and the size of the diffusion limitation area measured using diffusion weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWMRI) in patients diagnosed with ischaemic stroke without known cardiac diseases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study was a prospective, observational clinical study. Patients without cardiac disease with acute ischaemic stroke were included in the study. Electrocardiography (ECG) was received from the patients. P, QT, QTc and Tp-e dispersions were calculated. All the patients had computerised brain tomography (CT) and then DWMRI carried out so as to calculate infarct areas. RESULTS: Seventy ischaemic stroke patients and 30 control patients were included in the study. All parameters except for QTc dispersion (p = 0.88) were higher in the stroke group than in the control group (p < 0.05 for all values). The infarct area calculated with DWMRI was divided into four groups according to quartiles, and QT, QTc, P, and Tp-e dispersions of patients were evaluated. Patients were found to have a prolonged dispersion as the infarct area expanded, and this difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05 for all values). CONCLUSIONS: When we compared the patients with ischaemic stroke who had no known cardiac disease to those in the control group we found an increase in transmyocardial repolarisation parameters. As diffusion limitation areas grew larger, QT, QTc, P, and Tp-e dispersions increased. Physicians should be aware of dysrhythmias and sudden cardiac death in acute stroke and should observe these patients, especially those with larger stroke lesions.