Using MRI to predict atrial fibrillation and prevent future strokes

Atrial cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in patients with embolic stroke of unknown source without documented atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a type of irregular heartbeat which can increase a person’s risk of stroke. If the heart beats irregularly it can lead to pooling of the blood in the lower heart chamber and increased chance of clots forming. Some people can have a stroke, but the underlying cause of their stroke is unknown. It’s important to identify whether AF is the culprit, because future strokes caused by AF can be effectively prevented by anti-clotting medicines. However, as the abnormal rhythms in AF can come and go, it can be difficult to diagnose. Dr Williams and his team will test a new way to identify AF in people who have suffered a stroke. They think that AF induces early structural changes in the heart that could be detected by MRI. People with confirmed AF and people without AF will have an MRI scan of the atrium of their heart and the results will be compared. If differences can be seen between people with and without AF, the team will use this information in a future clinical trial where the MRI results will guide doctors on which patients can benefit from anti-clotting drugs. People with these structural changes can then be offered early treatment that could prevent repeat, potentially disabling, strokes.