Assessment of Myocardial Function by Myocardial Performance Index in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke

Objective: Acute stroke is an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Myocardial injury is an importantcomplication of acute cerebrovascular events. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship betweenmyocardial function assessed by myocardial performance index (MPI) and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale(NIHSS) score in patients with acute ischemic stroke.Method: The study comprised 97 patients (males, 42; females, 55; 65 ± 16 years) diagnosed with acute ischemicstroke. 17 patients were excluded. Patients were divided into two groups based on the calculated NIHSS score (Group1, NIHSS score < 16; Group 2, NIHSS score ? 16). Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data for all patients werecollected. Cardiac function was evaluated by transthorasic echocardiography within 48 hours of admission to theneurology care unit.Results: There were no significant differences among demographic parameters of patients. MPI was significantlyhigher in Group 2 patients than in Group 1 patients (0.59±0.25 vs 0.48±0.20, p=0.004).Conclusion: Our results suggest that MPI is associated with stroke severity on admission in patients with acuteischemic stroke. MPI is an indicator of global myocardial dysfunction with a different from LVEF. MPI, which includesboth systolic and diastolic time intervals is an option to assess the global cardiac dysfunction.