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Background and Objectives: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia and is associated with a five-fold increased risk for acute ischemic stroke (AIS). We aimed to estimate the prevalence of AF in a Lithuanian cohort of stroke patients, and its impact on patients regarding case fatality, functional outcome, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) at 90 days. Materials and Methods: A single-center prospective study was carried out for four non-consecutive months between December 2018 and July 2019 in one of the two comprehensive stroke centers in Eastern Lithuania. A telephone-based follow-up was conveyed at 90 days using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and EuroQoL five-dimensional three-level descriptive system (EQ-5D-3L) with a self-rated visual analog scale (EQ-VAS). One-year case fatality was investigated. Results: We included 238 AIS patients with a mean age of 71.4 ± 11.9 years of whom 45.0% were female. A striking 97 (40.8%) AIS patients had a concomitant AF, in 68 (70.1%) of whom the AF was pre-existing. The AIS patients with AF were at a significantly higher risk for a large vessel occlusion (LVO; odds ratio 2.72 [95% CI 1.38−5.49], p = 0.004), and had a more severe neurological impairment at presentation (median NIHSS score (interquartile range): 9 (6−16) vs. 6 (3−9), p < 0.001). The LVO status was only detected in those who had received computed tomography angiography. Fifty-five (80.9%) patients with pre-existing AF received insufficient anticoagulation at stroke onset. All patients received a 12-lead ECG, however, in-hospital 24-h Holter monitoring was only performed in 3.4% of AIS patients without pre-existing AF. Although multivariate analyses found no statistically significant difference in one-year stroke patient survival and favorable functional status (mRS 0−2) at 90 days, when adjusted for age, gender, reperfusion treatment, baseline functional status, and baseline NIHSS, stroke patients with AF had a significantly poorer self-perceived HRQoL, indicated by a lower EQ-VAS score (regression coefficient ± standard error: ß = −11.776 ± 4.850, p = 0.017). Conclusions: In our single-center prospective observational study in Lithuania, we found that 40.8% of AIS patients had a concomitant AF, were at a higher risk for an LVO, and had a significantly poorer self-perceived HRQoL at 90 days. Despite the high AF prevalence, diagnostic tools for subclinical AF were greatly underutilized.

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BACKGROUND: Primary iron overload cardiomyopathy is an important and potentially preventable cause of heart failure (HF), usually manifesting in the 4-5th decade of life. Patients may be asymptomatic early in the disease with hidden progression of cardiac dysfunction. The challenge of timely detection is an awareness of this systemic disorder and an adequate degree of clinical vigilance. CASE SUMMARY: A 48-year-old man was referred to the university clinic due to the episode of atrial fibrillation. The specific features of bronze skin and yellow eyes together with a combination of syndromes (cardiomyopathy, cirrhosis, ascites and portal hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and chronic kidney disease) stimulated the testing of iron metabolism markers, which were far above the normal range. Echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) showed the dilatation of all cardiac cavities and biventricular systolic dysfunction. CMR T2* mapping was consistent with the diagnosis of myocardial and hepatic siderosis. Hereditary Type I haemochromatosis was confirmed by a genetic test. After 6 months of standard HF treatment, chelation therapy with deferiprone and regular phlebotomies imaging tests showed a reduction of ventricular and atrial volumes, an improvement in the cardiac systolic function and a decrease of iron accumulation. DISCUSSION: In this case, complicating syndromes were detected earlier than underlying disease of primary haemochromatosis. Cardiac haemochromatosis should be considered in any patient with unexplained HF, especially in the case of a positive family history, abnormal liver enzymes, endocrinopathies, or evidence of involvement of other organ systems. Screening for systemic iron overload with transferrin saturation and serum ferritin is the first step. Further non-invasive imaging tests should be done to confirm organ involvement.

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Therapeutic hypothermia is method used to improve the neurological status of patients who are at risk of ischaemia after myocardial infarction. We report a case of a 28-year-old woman who suffered acute myocardial infarction complicated by ventricular fibrillation. The patient was successfully resuscitated. Invasive and non-invasive medical treatment was applied including therapeutic hypothermia. Success was achieved due to adequate public reaction, fast transportation, blood vessel revascularization and application of therapeutic hypothermia. The patient was successfully discharged after one week of treatment, and just minor changes in heart function were present.