El monitoreo a largo plazo para la fibrilación auricular paroxística en el ictus criptogénico: resultados preliminares del estudio sorpresa.

The SURPRISE project aims at estimating the frequency and the burden of paroxystic atrial fibrillation in patients with apparent cyptogenic minor stroke or TIA. Long term monitoring by use of a implanted Reveal XT ® is used with the aim of obtaining complete data on arrhythmia long term after minor stroke/TIA. In short, patients with cryptogenic (including no history of AF, and no signs of AF on telemetry during hospital stay) minor stroke or DWI-positive TIA, modified Rankin Scale ≤ 2, and no contraindications to anticoagulation treatment are included after informed consent from a comprehensive stroke unit. A Reveal XT®, an atrial fibrillation sensitive loop-recorder, is implanted subcutaneously, and patients are monitored for up to 3 years and followed up clinically by regular visits. Arrhythmia episodes are adjudicated by a senior consultant cardiologist specialized in electrophysiology. Primary endpoints of the study are 1) episodes AFIB and 2) burden of AFIB. Further 1) persisting AF and 2) recurrent stroke/TIA, and 3) treatment change to anticoagulation based on monitoring events. The study aims at enrolling a total of 100 patients, which is expected before end 2011.