Association between the effect of spontaneous contrast in the thoracic aorta and recent ischemic stroke determined by transesophageal echocardiography.

Objective: To assess the independent association between the presence of spontaneous echo contrast in the aorta and recent stroke events.

Methods: Two hundred and twenty-four individuals with a diagnosis of recent stroke and 85 control individuals who were examined due to various present/suspected heart diseases were studied through transesophageal echocardiography. The effects of spontaneous contrast in the aorta and the presence of other potential sources of cardiac embolism associated with them were researched and a questionnaire was completed about patients' clinical risk factors at the time of examination.

Results: The effects of contrast in the aorta was associated with stroke (OR=2.83; CI = 95%, 1.65-4.46; P<0.001) in the bivariate analysis. In the multivariate analysis, it remained associated with recent stroke (OR=2.05; CI = 90%, 1.10-3.85; P=0.06). Age > 60 years, a history of systemic blood hypertension and smoking, and dyslipidemia were risk factors independently associated with the effects of contrast in the aorta. The presence of a spontaneous contrast effect in the left atrium and Lambl's excrescences were echocardiographic factors independently associated with the effects of contrast in the aorta.

Conclusion: The effect of contrast in the aorta was independently associated with recent stroke and with its clinical risk factors. These results reinforce the hypothesis that the phenomenon is a predictor of several risk factors.