Background and Purpose
Most cryptogenic strokes are thought to have an embolic source. We sought to determine whether cryptogenic strokes are associated with visceral infarcts, which are usually embolic.
Methods
Among patients prospectively enrolled in the Cornell AcutE Stroke Academic Registry (CAESAR), we selected those with a contrast-enhanced abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan within 1 year of admission. Our exposure variable was adjudicated stroke subtype per the TOAST classification. Our outcome was renal or splenic infarction, as assessed by a single radiologist blinded to stroke subtype. We used Fisher’s exact test and multiple logistic regression to compare the prevalence of visceral infarcts among cardioembolic strokes, strokes of undetermined etiology, and non-cardioembolic strokes (large- or small-vessel strokes).
Results
Among 227 patients with ischemic stroke and a contrast-enhanced abdominal CT scan, 59 had a visceral infarct (35 renal and 27 splenic). The prevalence of visceral infarction was significantly different among cardioembolic strokes (34.2%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 23.7-44.6%), strokes of undetermined etiology (23.9%; 95% CI, 15.0-32.8%), and strokes from large-artery atherosclerosis or small-vessel occlusion (12.5%; 95% CI, 1.8-23.2%) (P = 0.03). In multiple logistic regression models adjusted for demographics and vascular comorbidities, we found significant associations with visceral infarction for both cardioembolic stroke (odds ratio [OR], 3.5; 95% CI, 1.2-9.9) and stroke of undetermined source (OR, 3.3; 95% CI, 1.1-10.5) as compared with non-cardioembolic stroke.
Conclusions
The prevalence of visceral infarction differed significantly across ischemic stroke subtypes. Cardioembolic and cryptogenic strokes were associated with a higher prevalence of visceral infarcts than non-cardioembolic strokes.