Infarction Secondary to Cerebral Embolism Was Diagnosed in 127 (23.5%) of 540 Patients in the Michael Reese Stroke Registry. Coronary Artery Disease, Atrial Fibrillation, Valvular Heart Disease, Mitral Annulus Calcification, and Cardiomyopathy Were the Commonest Etiologies. Echocardiography Documented a Potential Embolic Source in 7 Patients Without Previously Known Heart Disease and Clarified the Cardiac Pathology in Many of the Patients with Known Heart Disease. the Left Anterior Circulation Was Affected in 48%, Right Anterior in 37%, and Posterior Circulation in 15% of patients. CT Was Abnormal in 71% of the Patients and Was Approximately Equally Helpful in All Locations. Nineteen Percent of Emboli Presented with a Deficit that Was Other Than Maximal at Onset. Concurrent Systemic Embolism Was Unusual (2.3%). Prognosis Was Somewhat Worse Than in Thrombotic Stroke. Grouping of Patients According to Embolic Source (Intra-Arterial, Cardiac, and Uncertain Source) Showed No Differences in Activity at Onset, Early Course, or in Subsequent Course of the Illness.
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