A Pregnant Woman with Aphasia and Right-Sided Weakness

Author(s):  
M. Angela O’Neal

This chapter discusses the evaluation and management of acute ischemic stroke in pregnancy. Stroke in pregnancy is rare, but is a significant cause of morbidity. The etiologies of stroke in pregnancy are diverse. The most common causes in hospital-based studies are cardioembolic or related to eclampsia. The use of intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV tPA) as well as intra-arterial clot retrieval in stroke have been validated by multiple trials. Small case series support the safety of both therapies in pregnancy. Therefore, the management of stroke in pregnancy should be based on the mechanism and severity of the stroke, not on obstetrical issues.

Author(s):  
Ji Y. Chong ◽  
Michael P. Lerario

Intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV tPA) is the mainstay of stroke therapy and is US Food and Drug Administration-approved for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke. Its benefit on functional outcome has been established in multiple randomized trials when administered within 3 hours. Select patients may be treated off-label up to 4.5 hours from symptom onset. Eligibility criteria need to be reviewed carefully to optimize benefit and to minimize complications, namely reperfusion hemorrhage.


Stroke ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 47 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tapan Abrol ◽  
Zeeshan Hussain ◽  
Varun Chaubal ◽  
Gaurav Dighe ◽  
Muhammad F Bilal ◽  
...  

Introduction: People aged 90 years or older are the fastest growing group in North America. This group was excluded from traditional clinical trials of intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (iv tPA) thrombolysis. IV tPA is the most beneficial emergent therapy in acute ischemic stroke (AIS). We have compassionately treated AIS patients in this age group with iv tPA in recent years. Hypothesis: Our aim is to evaluate the safety and outcome of iv tPA use in nonagenarian patients with AIS Methods: Consecutively iv tPA-treated AIS patients who were older than 90 years and were admitted at our institution from January 2004-June 2015 were included. The administration of iv tPA was within 3 hours after the stroke onset. We reviewed the clinical features of the patients at presentation, complications, and outcomes. Outcome measures at discharge included improvement of NIHSS, mRS, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH), and discharge disposition. We also assessed the rate of complications of iv tPA. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate association between the outcome versus the severity of stroke, or versus pre-stroke dependence. Results: A total of 35 AIS patients who were 90 years or older (female 80%; and median age 93 years old) were treated with iv tPA. At baseline twenty-two patients (62.9%) had a history of atrial fibrillation without anticoagulation, and more than half (20/35) patients needed assistance for gait instability, but they were otherwise functional. Median NIHSS on admission was 16 (IQR 9-22). Two patients (5.7%) had symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage. At discharge the median NIHSS was 10 (IQR 1-19). Ten patients (28.6%) had favorable outcome (mRS ≤ 2) while sixteen patients (45.7%) had good outcome (mRS ≤ 3). Four patients were discharged home and 16 patients went to rehabilitation facility. Fifteen patients (42.9%) succumbed to cardio-pulmonary failure or were discharged to hospice. Mild AIS patients (NIHSS <7) had better outcomes (p < 0.05). The pre-existing dependence (mRS ≥3) did not predict poor outcome. Conclusion: It is safe to administer iv tPA to AIS patients who are 90 years or older although the benefits are less robust compared to younger patients. Patients with milder deficits had more favorable outcomes.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Yi Zhang ◽  
Abhay Kumar ◽  
John B. Tezel ◽  
Yihua Zhou

Background. Cerebral hyperperfusion syndrome (CHS), a rare complication after cerebral revascularization, is a well-described phenomenon after carotid endarterectomy or carotid artery stenting. However, the imaging evidence of CHS after intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (iv tPA) for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) has not been reported.Case Report. Four patients were determined to have manifestations of CHS with clinical deterioration after treatment with iv tPA, including one patient who developed seizure, one patient who had a deviation of the eyes toward lesion with worsened mental status, and two patients who developed worsened hemiparesis. In all four patients, postthrombolysis head CT examinations were negative for hemorrhage; CT angiogram showed patent cervical and intracranial arterial vasculature; CT perfusion imaging revealed hyperperfusion with increased relative cerebral blood flow and relative cerebral blood volume and decreased mean transit time along with decreased time to peak in the clinically related artery territory. Vascular dilation was also noted in three of these four cases.Conclusions. CHS should be considered in patients with clinical deterioration after iv tPA and imaging negative for hemorrhage. Cerebral angiogram and perfusion studies can be useful in diagnosing CHS thereby helping with further management.


Angiology ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 000331972096999
Author(s):  
Mehmet Akif Topcuoglu ◽  
Mehmet Yasir Pektezel ◽  
Ezgi Yilmaz ◽  
Ethem Murat Arsava

Inflammation indices derived from complete blood counts (CBCs) have been proposed to estimate benefit and risk of intravenous (IV) tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) in acute ischemic stroke. In 165 acute ischemic patients, the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet–lymphocyte ratio (PLR), lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio, and systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) were calculated before and 24 hours after IV tPA. The area under receiver operating characteristic (AUC-ROC) curves, and positive and negative likelihood ratios (+LR,−LR) were produced to measure their diagnostic accuracy and clinical utility for tPA effectiveness, hemorrhage risk and third-month prognosis. None of the indices obtained “before” IV-tPA was found to be useful in determining acute and long-term functional efficacy and bleeding risk. Lymphocyte decrease, neutrophil increase, and parallel NLR and SII increase at the 24th-hour were associated with poor functional outcome. However, their clinical utility was not sufficient due to absence of effective thresholds. NLR threshold >5.65 provided ROC-AUC 0.86, sensitivity 71.3%, specificity 65.7%, −LR 0, +LR 3.76, and SII threshold >1781 had ROC-AUC 0.802, sensitivity 58.7%, specificity 72.7%, −LR 0.11, +LR 4.52, corresponding to an acceptable clinical yield. Systemic immune-inflammation index and NLR, but not other CBC-derived inflammatory parameters, have moderate utility as marker of tPA-related symptomatic hemorrhage occurrence.


Author(s):  
Ahmad Sulaiman Alwahdy ◽  
Ika Yulieta Margaretha ◽  
Kenyo Sembodro Pramesti ◽  
Nailaufar Hamro ◽  
Viska Yuzella ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) not only caused a large surge of respiratory infections, it also had a potential association with and increases the risk of stroke. The pandemic has certainly provided new challenges and opportunities in the management of acute ischemic stroke (AIS); however, data regarding outcomes of intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV TPA) administration in stroke patients with COVID-19 remains limited. Case presentation Three AIS patients with confirmed COVID-19 treated using IV tPA. One case had excellent outcome, while the other cases showed unfavorable results. The risk–benefit ratio of IV TPA in COVID-19 remains unclear. Conclusion In this article, we discuss the possible explanation behind these different outcomes. Although IV tPA could not cure COVID-19, we suggest that its administration should not be delayed in AIS patients with COVID-19.


Stroke ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 44 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marija Lum ◽  
Jon Schrock

Background: Target stroke guidelines recommend a door-to-needle time (DNT) ≤60 minutes for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients treated with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). Research has shown that <30% of patients achieve this goal. It is unclear how the timing of chest radiography (CXR) and electrocardiography (EKG) affect DNT. We studied all steps involved in the evaluation and treatment of AIS with IV tPA to look for causes of delay. Methods: A retrospective review of all AIS patients treated in the ED with IV tPA over a four year period was performed. Transferred patients were excluded. Times comparing intervals from door to head CT, CT result, EKG, CXR, and IV tPA treatment, were evaluated. Demographic data and length of symptom onset were recorded. Non-modifiable delays in treatment were recorded. Data are presented in minutes (min) as medians with interquartile range and χ 2 testing was used as appropriate. Results: A total of 79 AIS patients met inclusion criteria, with 22 (28%) receiving IV tPA ≤60 minutes. Treatment with tPA in ≤60 minutes was significantly greater if symptom onset was >90 minutes (p<0.05) and if the EKG was done after the head CT (p<0.05). There was a change in median CT times with those who received EKG before CT and those who did not, 23 min (15-36 min) and 17 min (10-24min), respectively. Patients who received a CXR before CT had a median CT time of 32 min (21-38min) compared to 19 min (13-27min) for patients who did not. Unavoidable delays related to trauma, intubation, or delayed familial consent occurred in 7 (9%) patients. Post-tPA hemorrhage occurred in 13 (16%) patients. Eight (10%) patients expired. Conclusion: Non-critical studies performed prior to head CT increase DNT. An EKG performed before the head CT is completed increased CT time by 6 minutes and a CXR obtained before the head CT increased CT time by 13 minutes. Physician urgency is also a critical factor in DNT and is diminished in patients who arrive soon after symptom onset. DNT ≤60 minutes for AIS patients are affected by the level of urgency and order of diagnostic studies. Current primary stroke center recommendations of an EKG and CXR within 45 minutes may result in delayed treatment if these studies are performed before the head CT.


2013 ◽  
Vol 02 (02) ◽  
pp. 115-118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bijoy Menon ◽  
Mayank Goyal

AbstractEndovascular therapy (EVT) has gained vogue in the management of patients with acute stroke. Newer stent-retriever devices have led to better recanalization rates. In many centers, EVT is slowly being used as an add on to or in some instances, even as an alternative to intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV tPA). The publication of the results of the SYNTHESIS expansion, Interventional Management of Stroke III and Mechanical Retrieval Recanalization of Stroke Clots Using Embolectomy trials in 2013 has questioned the enthusiastic use of EVT in acute stroke. They demonstrate that EVT (using a variety of devices) is no superior to IV tPA in the management of acute stroke. In the light of these controversial findings, we review the current status of EVT in the management of acute stroke.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gautam Adusumilli ◽  
John M. Pederson ◽  
Nicole Hardy ◽  
Kevin M. Kallmes ◽  
Kristen Hutchison ◽  
...  

Background: Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is now the standard-of-care treatment for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) of the anterior circulation and may be performed irrespective of intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV-tPA) eligibility prior to the procedure. This study aims to understand better if tPA leads to higher rates of reperfusion and improves functional outcomes in AIS patients after MT and to simultaneously evaluate the functionality and efficiency of a novel semi-automated systematic review platform.Methods: The Nested Knowledge AutoLit semi-automated systematic review platform was utilized to identify randomized control trials published between 2010 and 2021 reporting the use of mechanical thrombectomy and IV-tPA (MT+tPA) vs. MT alone for AIS treatment. The primary outcome was the rate of successful recanalization, defined as thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (TICI) scores ≥2b. Secondary outcomes included 90-day modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 0–2, 90-day mortality, distal embolization to new territory, and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH). A separate random effects model was fit for each outcome measure.Results: We subjectively found Nested Knowledge to be highly streamlined and effective at sourcing the correct literature. Four studies with 1,633 patients, 816 in the MT+tPA arm and 817 in the MT arm, were included in the meta-analysis. In each study, patient populations consisted of only tPA-eligible patients and all imaging and clinical outcomes were adjudicated by an independent and blinded core laboratory. Compared to MT alone, patients treated with MT+tPA had higher odds of eTICI ≥2b (OR = 1.34 [95% CI: 1.10; 1.63]). However, there were no statistically significant differences in the rates of 90-day mRS 0-2 (OR = 0.98 [95% CI: 0.77; 1.24]), 90-day mortality (OR = 0.94 [95% CI: 0.67; 1.32]), distal emboli (OR = 0.94 [95% CI: 0.25; 3.60]), or sICH (OR = 1.17 [95% CI: 0.80; 1.72]).Conclusions: Administering tPA prior to MT may improve the rates of recanalization compared to MT alone in tPA-eligible patients being treated for AIS, but a corresponding improvement in functional and safety outcomes was not present in this review. Further studies looking at the role of tPA before mechanical thrombectomy in different cohorts of patients could better clarify the role of tPA in the treatment protocol for AIS.


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