[Cardiovascular risk factors and echocardiography in patients victims of ischemic stroke in brazzaville: 83 cases].

Goal: Investigate the cardiovascular risk factors and evaluate the usefulness of echocardiography in the assessment ischemic stroke.

Materials And Methods: Prospective and descriptive study in the neurology department of the teaching hospital of Brazzaville between June 2011 and June 2012, 83 patients enrolled and 55 echocardiograms performed.

Results: The risk factors found were: obesity (19, 22.8%), overweight (16, 19.2%), high blood pressure (44, 53%), diabetes (14, 16.8%), dyslipidemia (6, 7.2%), and smoking (2). Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) was 68.5 ± 10.3%. There was a hypokinetic and dilated cardiomyopathy in four cases (7.2%), left ventricular hypertrophy in eight cases (14.5%), left atrial enlargement in 13 cases (23.6%). We have identified a tight mitral stenosis. The diastolic profile was a relaxation-type disorder in 46 patients (83.6%). Echocardiography identified 12 (14.4%) lesions potentially embolic: dilated cardiomyopathy (n = 4), ischemic heart disease (n = 6), tight mitral stenosis (n = 1), acute pulmonary heart post-embolic (n = 1).

Conclusion: Echocardiography is an essential examination for the investigation of a cardioembolic cause in the assessment of a stroke, enabling therapeutic adaptation..