Official Journal of the Albanian Society of Internal Medicine

ISSN 3007-6692

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THE ROLE OF AUTONOMIC DYSFUNCTION IN OUTCOME OF STROKE PATIENTS

Introduction. Stroke is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in world and in Albania. Several studies have demonstrated that cardiac dysfunction may occur after vascular brain injury without any evidence of primary heart disease. During acute stroke, autonomic dysfunction elevated arterial blood pressure, atrial fibrillation, and ischemic cardiac damage, has been reported, which may worsen the prognosis. Autonomic disorders following a stroke can occur due to damage to brain regions that regulate the autonomic nervous system (ANS). The ANS controls involuntary functions such as heart rate, blood pressure, digestion, and thermoregulation.