Embolic stroke of undetermined source: knowledge validated and refuted in the past 10 years / 中华神经科杂志

ABSTRACT

Embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS) is a concept proposed by an international working group in 2014 to define a class of stroke patients and explore the rationality of secondary prevention by anticoagulation in them. During the decade since the concept was proposed, numerous studies have been conducted on the pathogenesis and prevention strategies of ESUS. However, the research results are not quite consistent with the speculations and assumptions when the concept was proposed. Based on the review of the findings of related studies over the past decade, this article discusses the inherent defects in the ESUS concept, the new idea derived from the research results, the future role of ESUS, and trends in etiological diagnosis of ischemic stroke.