Association between acute ischemic stroke etiology and macroscopic aspect of retrieved clots: is a clot’s color a warning light for underlying pathologies?

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 1197-1200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandro Sgreccia ◽  
Zoé Duchmann ◽  
Jean Philippe Desilles ◽  
Bertrand Lapergue ◽  
Julien Labreuche ◽  
...  

BackgroundFew case reports have considered the chromatic aspect of retrieved clots and the possible association with their underlying etiology.ObjectiveThe aim of our study was to analyze the frequency of the TOAST ischemic stroke typical (atrial fibrillation, dissection, atheroma) and atypical (infective endocarditis, cancer-related, valve-related thrombi) etiologies depending on the chromatic aspect of retrieved clots.MethodsA total of 255 anonymized and standardized clot photos of consecutive patients treated by mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke were included. A double-blind evaluation was performed by two senior interventional neuroradiologists, who classified the visual aspects of the clots into two main patterns: red/black or white. Main patient characteristics, distribution of underlying stroke etiologies, and outcomes were compared between the two study groups.ResultsThe inter-reader agreement for clot colors was excellent (k=0.78). Two hundred and thirty-three patients were classified as having red/black clots and 22 as having white clots. A statistically significant association (p=0.001) between atypical etiologies and white clots was observed.ConclusionsWhite clots were significantly associated with atypical etiologies in this cohort,in particular, with infectious endocarditis.

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 558-571 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kartik Bhatia ◽  
Hans Kortman ◽  
Christopher Blair ◽  
Geoffrey Parker ◽  
David Brunacci ◽  
...  

OBJECTIVEThe role of mechanical thrombectomy in pediatric acute ischemic stroke is uncertain, despite extensive evidence of benefit in adults. The existing literature consists of several recent small single-arm cohort studies, as well as multiple prior small case series and case reports. Published reports of pediatric cases have increased markedly since 2015, after the publication of the positive trials in adults. The recent AHA/ASA Scientific Statement on this issue was informed predominantly by pre-2015 case reports and identified several knowledge gaps, including how young a child may undergo thrombectomy. A repeat systematic review and meta-analysis is warranted to help guide therapeutic decisions and address gaps in knowledge.METHODSUsing PRISMA-IPD guidelines, the authors performed a systematic review of the literature from 1999 to April 2019 and individual patient data meta-analysis, with 2 independent reviewers. An additional series of 3 cases in adolescent males from one of the authors’ centers was also included. The primary outcomes were the rate of good long-term (mRS score 0–2 at final follow-up) and short-term (reduction in NIHSS score by ≥ 8 points or NIHSS score 0–1 at up to 24 hours post-thrombectomy) neurological outcomes following mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischemic stroke in patients < 18 years of age. The secondary outcome was the rate of successful angiographic recanalization (mTICI score 2b/3).RESULTSThe authors’ review yielded 113 cases of mechanical thrombectomy in 110 pediatric patients. Although complete follow-up data are not available for all patients, 87 of 96 (90.6%) had good long-term neurological outcomes (mRS score 0–2), 55 of 79 (69.6%) had good short-term neurological outcomes, and 86 of 98 (87.8%) had successful angiographic recanalization (mTICI score 2b/3). Death occurred in 2 patients and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage in 1 patient. Sixteen published thrombectomy cases were identified in children < 5 years of age.CONCLUSIONSMechanical thrombectomy may be considered for acute ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion (ICA terminus, M1, basilar artery) in patients aged 1–18 years (Level C evidence; Class IIb recommendation). The existing evidence base is likely affected by selection and publication bias. A prospective multinational registry is recommended as the next investigative step.


BMC Neurology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Amre Nouh ◽  
Tapan Mehta ◽  
Mohamed Hussain ◽  
Xianyuan Song ◽  
Martin Ollenschleger

Abstract Background A number of emerging studies have evaluated clot composition in acute ischemic stroke. Studies of clot composition of embolic strokes of undetermined strokes are lacking. Objectives We sought to analyze the RBC to platelet ratios in clots and correlated our findings with stroke etiology. Methods This was a prospective study analyzing clots retrieved by mechanical thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke patients at our institution. All clots were stained and scanned at 200x magnification by using a Scanscope XT digital scanner (Apergio, Vista, California). Image-J software (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland) was used for semi quantitative analysis of percentage RBC’s and platelets. Unpaired t-test was used to compare means of RBC to Platelet ratios. Correlation of RBC to Platelet ratios with stroke etiology was performed. Results A total of 33 clots from 33 patients were analyzed. Stroke etiology was undetermined in 6 patients, cardioembolic in 14, large vessel atherosclerosis (LVA) in 9, and carotid dissection in 4. The mean RBC to platelet ratio was 0.78:1 (+/− 0.65) in cardioembolic clots, 1.73:1 (+/− 2.38) in LVA and 1.4:1(+/− 0.70) in carotid dissections. Although patients with undetermined etiology had a similar clot composition to cardioembolic stroke (0.36:1+/− 0.33), (p = 0.19), it differed significantly from LVA and dissections respectively (p = 0.037, p = 0.01). Conclusion In our study, a low RBC to Platelet ratio was found among patients with embolic strokes of undetermined source, however shared similar characteristics with cardioembolic thrombi. Ongoing collection and analysis is needed to confirm these findings and its significance in evaluating stroke etiology.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (12) ◽  
pp. 3517-3525
Author(s):  
Lucio D’Anna

Abstract Background Mechanical thrombectomy is the standard of care, in selected patients, for acute ischemic stroke with large vessel occlusion but its use in patients with stroke secondary to infective endocarditis is controversial. We report three cases of acute ischemic stroke treated by mechanical thrombectomy and we propose an extensive review of the literature to evaluate the clinical safety and efficacy of thrombectomy in patients with stroke secondary to infective endocarditis. Methods A comprehensive literature search was performed following a pre-specified protocol of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement. Case reports, cases series, cross-sectional studies, case control studies, randomized controlled trials or nonrandomized controlled trials were considered that included endocarditis-related acute ischemic stroke patients who underwent mechanical thrombectomy. Results The database search yielded 431 relevant records published until January 2020. Nineteen articles fulfilled the eligibility criteria that described thirty patients. After the thrombectomy, 13.3% of the patients experienced intracranial haemorrhage. After the procedure, the median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score dropped from 15 (IQR 7) to 2.5 (IQR 5.75). At 90 days, mortality was 23.3% while 46.7% of the patients were functionally independent (mRS ≤ 2). Discussion Based on our review, the use of mechanical thrombectomy in patients with large vessel occlusion due to endocarditis-associated stroke might improve patient outcome but it should be considered on a case by case base as the safety has not been well established yet. Further research on risk stratification is needed to drive clinician during the decision-making process.


Author(s):  
Fumiya Kutsuna ◽  
Kairi Yamashita ◽  
Tadashi Kanamoto ◽  
Hirokazu Kurohama ◽  
Yohei Tateishi ◽  
...  

2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 155-157
Author(s):  
Sandeep Nayani ◽  
Rajesh Reddy Chenna ◽  
Rajesh Reddy Sannareddy ◽  
Sandeep Bhapkar ◽  
Sonesh Kalra ◽  
...  

Non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants have provided an optimization of management of patients in the prevention of stroke in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. The lack of an effective reversal agent has remained a challenge to these agents’ widespread utilization. Idarucizumab, a specific reversal agent for dabigatran, is approved in many countries including India. However, there is limited data for its use for Indian patients. We are reporting one of the cases of its use in India where it successfully reversed dabigatran prior to mechanical thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke.


Stroke ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sung Hyuk Heo ◽  
Bum Joon Kim ◽  
Dae-Il Chang ◽  
Hye-Yeon Choi ◽  
Young Seo Kim ◽  
...  

Introduction: HT047 is an herbal mixture extract of the Scutellaria baicalensis and Pueraria lobata plants, which have been widely used to treat ischemic stroke in traditional Korean medicine. The aims of this trial are to investigate whether HT047 can improve neurological status, particularly motor function, in acute ischemic stroke patients, and to determine the safety and tolerance of HT047. Methods: In this randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, phase II trial, we enrolled patients with acute ischemic stroke within the past 14 days from 8 centers in Korea. The participating patients must have a Fugl-Meyer Assessment (FMA) motor score ≤55 with arm or leg weakness, and Korean version of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (K-NIHSS) score of ≥4 and ≤15. Seventy-eight participants will be randomized in a 1:1:1 ratio and given high-dose HT047 (750 mg three times a day), low-dose HT047 (500 mg three times a day), or a placebo for 12 weeks. The primary endpoint is the change in FMA motor score between baseline and week 12. The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02828540. Results: Between Aug, 2016, and Aug, 2018, we randomly assigned 78 patients to one of the three study groups, of whom 66 patients were assessed for the primary endpoint in full analysis set. The median (min, max) changes in FMA motor score of high-dose HT047 and low-dose HT047 were 24 (0, 63) and 43 (-2, 70) (placebo group=28 [0, 63], p=0.929 and p=0.705, respectively). The prevalence of favorable outcome defined as modified Rankin scale score of 0-2 were 47.6% (p=0.919) in high-dose HT047 group and 57.1% (p=0.106) in low-dose HT047 group (31.6% in placebo group). Adverse events were similar across the three study groups. Conclusions: This study is a first-in-human trial of HT047, and there were no between-group differences on the primary and secondary endpoints.


2017 ◽  
Vol 66 (8) ◽  
pp. 1286-1289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Ambrosioni ◽  
Xabier Urra ◽  
Marta Hernández-Meneses ◽  
Manel Almela ◽  
Carlos Falces ◽  
...  

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