Abstract

Of 196 patients with cerebrovascular accidents, 28 with disturbances of cardiac rhythm or repolarization on electrocardiography (ECG) and 24 hour Holter monitoring were included in this study. The daily ECG recordings of these patients were performed up to 10th day. The brain tomography showed cerebral infarction in 16 patients and intracerebral haemorrhage in 12 patients. Eleven patients had cardiac rhythm disturbances and 20 patients had repolarization disturbances on the first ECG; 20 patients (11 with cerebral infarction and 9 with intracerebral haemorrhage) had cardiac rhythm disturbances and 25 patients (15 with cerebral infarction and 10 with intracerebral haemorrhage) had repolarization disturbances on Holter monitoring; 14 patients had cardiac rhythm disturbances and 15 patients had repolarization disturbances on ECG within 10 days. There were no significant differences either between the first ECG, 24 hour monitoring, and 10 days ECG or between cerebral infarction and intracerebral haemorrhage in patients with ECG changes on Holter monitoring. (p>0.05). ECG changes may occur secondary to stroke in patients with no known history of heart disease. However no significant differences between Holter monitoring and daily electrocardiography recordings was observed. [Journal of Turgut Özal Medical Center 1998;5(1):40-42]

Key Words: Acute cerebrovascular disease, holter monitoring