Objective:To assess the effect of localization of cerebral stroke on cardiac damages and cardiac autonomic nervous activity.Methods:ECG

plasma CK-MB level and heart rate variability(HRV) recordings were measured and analysed among 389 patients with hemispheric cerebral stroke in the acute phase and among 206 control subjects.Results:Supraventricular arrhythmias and prolonged QTc were significantly increased in groups of right insular infarction

fight putamental and frontoparietotemporal hemorrhage as compared with groups of stroke in other regions.A significantly increased rates of ST segment abnormalities were found in groups of left insular infarction

left putamental and frontoparietotemporal hemorrhage as compared with groups of stroke in other regions.Plasma CK-MB level increase was only found in insular infarction

and similarity was seen between the right and left.The measured components of HRV

ie

HF

RMSSD

and PNN50 were significantly lower

and LF/HF were significantly higher in groups of right insular infarction

right putamental and frontoparietotemporal hemorrhage in acute phase compared with groups of stroke in other regions and control group.Conclusion:The effects of hemispheric stroke on heart function and cardiac autonomic nervous activity are mainly correlated with destruction of insular or regions adjacent to the insular.