CompletedNot Applicable

Identification the Cause of Silent Cerebral infarctiON in Healthy Subjects (ICONS)

South Korea581 participantsStarted 2008-04

Plain-language summary

We hypothesized that paradoxical embolism may be one of the main mechanisms of silent cerebral infarction (SCI) located outside the perforating artery territory. In the present study, we evaluated the association between SCI and paradoxical embolism detected by agitated saline transcranial Doppler (TCD) monitoring in healthy subjects without history of stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). We also compared the frequency and amount of paradoxical embolism between healthy subjects with SCI and acute stroke patients with presumed cryptogenic embolism or conventional stroke mechanisms.

Who can participate

Age range

20 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: Healthy subjects * Subjects with age over 20 years * Subjects who consecutively visited a health promotion center for a health screening examination that included routine laboratory test, cardiac work-ups (12-lead electrocardiography and/or echocardiography), and brain magnetic resonance image (MRI) and MR angiography (MRA) * Subjects who showed silent brain infarction (SCI) which was defined as a focal hyperintensity lesion 3 mm or large in diameter in the fluid-attenuation inversion recovery (FLAIR) images without a history of a corresponding stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) * Subjects who performed agitated saline transcranial Doppler (TCD) monitoring Patients with acute stroke (both cryptogenic embolic stroke and conventional stroke mechanisms) * Patients with age over 20 year * Patients with focal neurologic deficits presented within 7 days of symptom onset * Patients with acute ischemic lesions on diffusion-weighted image (DWI) * Patients who performed agitated saline TCD monitoring Exclusion Criteria: Healthy subjects * Subjects with the presence of previous history of stroke or TIA * Subjects with the presence of dementia on history taking or mini-mental status examination * Subjects with the presence of proximal source of embolism, including atrial fibrillation or significant (≥50%) stenosis on cervicocerebral artery on MRA or carotid Duplex * Subjects who had SCI restricted within perforator territory (basal ganglia or pons) sugge…

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Frequency and amount of right-to-left shunts (RLS) on agitated saline TCD monitoring

Timeframe: Within a month after MRI scanning

Trial details

NCT IDNCT01429948

SponsorSamsung Medical Center

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeOBSERVATIONAL

Primary completion2011-01

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Cerebral Infarction trials