ABSTRACT
A review of hospital admissions for stroke between January 1980 and December 1999 at the medical wards of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital in Enugu; Nigeria was undertaken to ascertain the frequency; patterns and risk factors associated with ischaemic strokes attributable to cardiogenic brain embolization. The results showed that of 450 medical admissions for ischaemic stroke; 5.1 (23 cases) were cerebral infarction related to cardiogenic embolism. There was a male preponderance (5.7 males:2 females). The highest rate of cerebral embolism was seen in the age group 50-59 years. The commonest observed risk factors included hypertension in association with atrial fibrillation (AF; 21.7) and hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy (17.4). The right cerebral hemispheres were more frequently affected (43.5). The relative risk of cerebral cardioembolism attributed to AF; cardiomyopathy; and hypertension were 13.34 (confidence interval; CI 11.5; 15.5); 9.8 (CI 6.3; 1.6); and 0.27 (CI 6.1; 2.2); respectively. There is a need for physicians to properly identify patients at risk for cardiogenic cerebral arterial embolization in whom anticoagulation may be beneficial