Newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation after acute ischemic stroke and transient ischemic attack: importance of immediate and prolonged continuous cardiac monitoring.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the major cause of cardioembolic stroke. It often remains occult when asymptomatic and paroxysmal. We hypothesized that the detection of AF after acute ischemic stroke (AIS) or transient ischemic attack (TIA) could be improved by using continuous cardiac monitoring (CCM) immediately after admission.