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http://dx.doi.org/10.3340/jkns.2013.53.6.368

Spontaneous Conversion of Atrial Fibrillation to Normal Sinus Rhythm Following Recurrent Cerebral Infarctions  

Oh, Kyungmi (Department of Neurology, Korea University Medical Center, Korea University College of Medicine)
Choi, Jeong-Yoon (Department of Neurology, Korea University Medical Center, Korea University College of Medicine)
Kim, Byung-Jo (Department of Neurology, Korea University Medical Center, Korea University College of Medicine)
Publication Information
Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society / v.53, no.6, 2013 , pp. 368-370 More about this Journal
Abstract
Post-stroke atrial fibrillation has been frequently reported especially in the patients with right insular infarct as an evidence of cerebrogenic mechanism affecting on cardiac rhythm. However, conversion to normal sinus rhythm after stroke in patients who had atrial fibrillation has not been reported. A 88-year-old men who had untreated atrial fibrillation was admitted to hospital due to left middle cerebral artery territory infarction. During admission, second ischemic attack occurred in right middle cerebral artery territory. At that time, his atrial fibrillation converted spontaneously to normal sinus rhythm. Restored sinus rhythm sustained until he died due to sepsis. This case is evidence supporting a theory that brain is associated with control of cardiac rhythm. If no risk factor is revealed by intensive investigation in patients with acute cerebral infarctions that cardioembolism is strongly suspected as a cause, physicians should concern transformation of atrial fibrillation to normal sinus rhythm after stroke.
Keywords
Atrial fibrillation; Cerebral infarction; Autonomic nervous system;
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Times Cited By KSCI : 3  (Citation Analysis)
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