scholarly journals Sex and Hemisphere - A Neglected, Nature-Determined Relationship in Acute Ischemic Stroke

2015 ◽  
Vol 40 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 59-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Hametner ◽  
Peter Ringleb ◽  
Lars Kellert

Background: Sex differences in the structural connectome of the brain are clinically highly relevant, but they have mostly been neglected in stroke trials. We investigated the impact of the interaction sex-by-hemisphere on outcome in stroke patients after intravenous thrombolysis (IVT). Methods: This is an observational study based on consecutively collected supratentorial stroke patients treated with IVT (n = 1,231). The 3-month modified Rankin scale (mRS) was estimated by adjusted binary (mRS 0-2 for good outcome) and ordinal regression analysis. As baseline characteristics differ substantially between the sexes, we aimed for better covariate balance by employing coarsened exact matching. Results: Sex-by-hemisphere predicted good outcome in the entire cohort (726 left, 505 right hemispheric strokes, p valueinteraction 0.032) and in the matched cohort (338 left, 273 right, p valueinteraction 0.003). Ordinal regression suggested a comparable estimate in the matched cohort (p valueinteraction 0.006). Further investigation revealed relevant between-sex and within-sex risk: right hemispheric strokes in men were 1.54 times (95% confidence intervals (CIs) 1.15-2.01) more likely than in women to achieve mRS 0-2. Women with right hemispheric strokes were 0.72 times (95% CI 0.54-0.92) less likely to reach mRS 0-2 than women with left hemispheric strokes. Conversely, men with right hemispheric strokes were 1.35 times (95% CI 1.06-1.70) more likely to achieve mRS 0-2 than men with left hemispheric strokes. Conclusion: This study suggests that outcomes are different in both sexes after IVT when different hemispheres are affected. Further consideration of this hypothesis in clinical trials might help in guiding individualized, injury-specific treatment approaches for acute ischemic stroke.

PLoS ONE ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. e0185589 ◽  
Author(s):  
Florica Gadalean ◽  
Mihaela Simu ◽  
Florina Parv ◽  
Ruxandra Vorovenci ◽  
Raluca Tudor ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 540-554 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adnan I Qureshi ◽  
Foad Abd-Allah ◽  
Fahmi Al-Senani ◽  
Emrah Aytac ◽  
Afshin Borhani-Haghighi ◽  
...  

Background and purpose On 11 March 2020, World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 infection a pandemic. The risk of ischemic stroke may be higher in patients with COVID-19 infection similar to those with other respiratory tract infections. We present a comprehensive set of practice implications in a single document for clinicians caring for adult patients with acute ischemic stroke with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 infection. Methods The practice implications were prepared after review of data to reach the consensus among stroke experts from 18 countries. The writers used systematic literature reviews, reference to previously published stroke guidelines, personal files, and expert opinion to summarize existing evidence, indicate gaps in current knowledge, and when appropriate, formulate practice implications. All members of the writing group had opportunities to comment in writing on the practice implications and approved the final version of this document. Results This document with consensus is divided into 18 sections. A total of 41 conclusions and practice implications have been developed. The document includes practice implications for evaluation of stroke patients with caution for stroke team members to avoid COVID-19 exposure, during clinical evaluation and performance of imaging and laboratory procedures with special considerations of intravenous thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy in stroke patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection. Conclusions These practice implications with consensus based on the currently available evidence aim to guide clinicians caring for adult patients with acute ischemic stroke who are suspected of, or confirmed, with COVID-19 infection. Under certain circumstances, however, only limited evidence is available to support these practice implications, suggesting an urgent need for establishing procedures for the management of stroke patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 175628642110211
Author(s):  
Georgios Magoufis ◽  
Apostolos Safouris ◽  
Guy Raphaeli ◽  
Odysseas Kargiotis ◽  
Klearchos Psychogios ◽  
...  

Recent randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs) have revolutionized acute ischemic stroke care by extending the use of intravenous thrombolysis and endovascular reperfusion therapies in time windows that have been originally considered futile or even unsafe. Both systemic and endovascular reperfusion therapies have been shown to improve outcome in patients with wake-up strokes or symptom onset beyond 4.5 h for intravenous thrombolysis and beyond 6 h for endovascular treatment; however, they require advanced neuroimaging to select stroke patients safely. Experts have proposed simpler imaging algorithms but high-quality data on safety and efficacy are currently missing. RCTs used diverse imaging and clinical inclusion criteria for patient selection during the dawn of this novel stroke treatment paradigm. After taking into consideration the dismal prognosis of nonrecanalized ischemic stroke patients and the substantial clinical benefit of reperfusion therapies in selected late presenters, we propose rescue reperfusion therapies for acute ischemic stroke patients not fulfilling all clinical and imaging inclusion criteria as an option in a subgroup of patients with clinical and radiological profiles suggesting low risk for complications, notably hemorrhagic transformation as well as local or remote parenchymal hemorrhage. Incorporating new data to treatment algorithms may seem perplexing to stroke physicians, since treatment and imaging capabilities of each stroke center may dictate diverse treatment pathways. This narrative review will summarize current data that will assist clinicians in the selection of those late presenters that will most likely benefit from acute reperfusion therapies. Different treatment algorithms are provided according to available neuroimaging and endovascular treatment capabilities.


Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 347
Author(s):  
Zsuzsa Bagoly ◽  
Barbara Baráth ◽  
Rita Orbán-Kálmándi ◽  
István Szegedi ◽  
Réka Bogáti ◽  
...  

Cross-linking of α2-plasmin inhibitor (α2-PI) to fibrin by activated factor XIII (FXIIIa) is essential for the inhibition of fibrinolysis. Little is known about the factors modifying α2-PI incorporation into the fibrin clot and whether the extent of incorporation has clinical consequences. Herein we calculated the extent of α2-PI incorporation by measuring α2-PI antigen levels from plasma and serum obtained after clotting the plasma by thrombin and Ca2+. The modifying effect of FXIII was studied by spiking of FXIII-A-deficient plasma with purified plasma FXIII. Fibrinogen, FXIII, α2-PI incorporation, in vitro clot-lysis, soluble fibroblast activation protein and α2-PI p.Arg6Trp polymorphism were measured from samples of 57 acute ischemic stroke patients obtained before thrombolysis and of 26 healthy controls. Increasing FXIII levels even at levels above the upper limit of normal increased α2-PI incorporation into the fibrin clot. α2-PI incorporation of controls and patients with good outcomes did not differ significantly (49.4 ± 4.6% vs. 47.4 ± 6.7%, p = 1.000), however it was significantly lower in patients suffering post-lysis intracranial hemorrhage (37.3 ± 14.0%, p = 0.004). In conclusion, increased FXIII levels resulted in elevated incorporation of α2-PI into fibrin clots. In stroke patients undergoing intravenous thrombolysis treatment, α2-PI incorporation shows an association with the outcome of therapy, particularly with thrombolysis-associated intracranial hemorrhage.


Author(s):  
Amy K Starosciak ◽  
Italo Linfante ◽  
Gail Walker ◽  
Osama O Zaidat ◽  
Alicia C Castonguay ◽  
...  

Background: Recanalization of the occluded artery is a powerful predictor of good outcome in acute ischemic stroke secondary to large artery occlusions. Mechanical thrombectomy with stent-trievers results in higher recanalization rates and better outcomes compared to previous devices. However, despite successful recanalization rates (Treatment in Cerebral Infarction, TICI, score ≥ 2b) between 70 and 90%, good clinical outcomes assessed by modified Rankin Scale (mRS) ≤ 2 is present in 40-50% of patients . We aimed to evaluate predictors of poor outcomes (mRS > 2) despite successful recanalization (TICI ≥ 2b) in the acute stroke patients treated with the Solitaire device of the North American Solitaire Stent Retriever Acute Stroke (NASA) registry. Methods: The NASA registry is a multicenter, non-sponsored, physician-conducted, post-marketing registry on the use of SOLITAIRE FR device in 354 acute, large vessel, ischemic stroke patients. Logistic regression was used to evaluate patient characteristics and treatment parameters for association with 90-day mRS score of 0-2 (good outcome) versus 3-6 (poor outcome) within patients who were recanalized successfully (Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction or TICI score 2b-3). Univariate tests were followed by development of a multivariable model based on stepwise selection with entry and retention criteria of p < 0.05 from the set of factors with at least marginal significance (p ≤ 0.10) on univariate analysis. The c-statistic was calculated as a measure of predictive power. Results: Out of 354 patients, 256 (72.3%) were successfully recanalized (TICI ≥ 2b). Based on 90-day mRS score for 234 of these patients, there were 116 (49.6%) with mRS > 2. Univariate analysis identified increased risk of mRS > 2 for each of the following: age ≥ 80 years (upper quartile of data), occlusion site other than M1/M2, NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score ≥ 18 (median), history of diabetes mellitus (DM), TICI = 2b, use of rescue therapy, not using a balloon-guided catheter (BGC) or intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV t-PA), and time to recanalization > 30 minutes (all p ≤ 0.05). Three or more passes was marginally significant (p=0.097). In multivariable analysis, age ≥ 80 years, site other than M1/M2, initial NIHSS ≥18, DM, absence of IV t-PA, use of rescue therapy and three or more passes were significant independent predictors of poor 90-day outcome in a model with good predictive power (c-index = 0.80). Conclusions: Age, occlusion site, high NIHSS, diabetes, not receiving IV t-PA, use of rescue therapy and three or more passes, were associated with poor 90-day outcome despite successful recanalization.


Stroke ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolle W Davis ◽  
Meghan Bailey ◽  
Natalie Buchwald ◽  
Amreen Farooqui ◽  
Anna Khanna

Background/Objective: There is growing importance on discovering factors that delay time to intervention for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients, as rapid intervention remains essential for better patient outcomes. The management of these patients involves a multidisciplinary effort and quality improvement initiatives to safely increase treatment with intravenous thrombolytic (IV tPa). The objective of this pilot is to evaluate factors of acute stroke care in the emergency department (ED) and the impact they have on IV tPa administration. Methods: A sample of 89 acute ischemic stroke patients that received IV tPa from a single academic medical institution was selected for retrospective analysis. System characteristics (presence of a stroke nurse and time of day) and patient characteristics (mode of arrival and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (NIHSS) on arrival) were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression to address the study question. Results: The mean door to needle time is 53.74 minutes ( + 38.06) with 74.2% of patients arriving to the ED via emergency medical services (EMS) and 25.8% having a stroke nurse present during IV tPa administration. Mode of arrival ( p = .001) and having a stroke nurse present ( p = .022) are significant predictors of door to needle time in the emergency department (ED). Conclusion: While many factors can influence door to needle times in the ED, we did not find NIHSS on arrival or time of day to be significant factors. Patients arriving to the ED by personal vehicle will have a significant delay in IV tPa administration, therefore emphasizing the importance of using EMS. Perhaps more importantly, collaborative efforts including the addition of a specialized stroke nurse significantly decreased time to IV tPa administration for AIS patients. With this dedicated role, accelerated triage and more effective management of AIS patients is accomplished, leading to decreased intervention times and potentially improving patient outcomes.


Author(s):  
Marta Olive‐Gadea ◽  
Manuel Requena ◽  
Facundo Diaz ◽  
Alvaro Garcia‐Tornel ◽  
Marta Rubiera ◽  
...  

Introduction : In acute ischemic stroke patients, current guidelines recommend noninvasive vascular imaging to identify intracranial vessel occlusions (VO) that may benefit from endovascular treatment (EVT). However, VO can be missed in CT angiography (CTA) readings. We aim to evaluate the impact of consistently including CT perfusion (CTP) in admission stroke imaging protocols on VO diagnosis and EVT rates. Methods : We included patients with a suspected acute ischemic stroke that underwent urgent non‐contrast CT, CTA and CTP from April to October 2020. Hypoperfusion areas defined by Tmax>6s delay (RAPID software), congruent with the clinical symptoms and a vascular territory, were considered due to a VO (CTP‐VO). Cases in which mechanical thrombectomy was performed were defined as therapeutically relevant VO (EVT‐VO). For patients that received EVT, site of VO according to digital subtraction angiography was recorded. Two experienced neuroradiologists blinded to CTP but not to clinical symptoms, retrospectively evaluated NCCT and CTA to identify intracranial VO (CTA‐VO). We analyzed CTA‐VO sensitivity and specificity at detecting CTP‐VO and EVT‐VO respecitvely. We performed a logistic regression to test the association of Tmax>6s volumes with CTA‐VO identification and indication of EVT. Results : Of the 338 patients included in the analysis, 157 (46.5%) presented a CTP‐VO, (median Tmax>6s: 73 [29‐127] ml). CTA‐VO was identified in 83 (24.5%) of the cases. Overall CTA‐VO sensitivity for the detection of CTP‐VO was 50.3% and specificity was 97.8%. Higher hypoperfusion volume was associated with an increased CTA‐VO detection, with an odds ratio of 1.03 (95% confidence interval 1.02‐1.04) (figure). DSA was indicated in 107 patients; in 4 of them no EVT was attempted due to recanalization or a too distal VO in the first angiographic run. EVT was performed in 103 patients (30.5%. Tmax>6s: 102 [63‐160] ml), representing 65.6% of all CTP‐VO. Overall CTA‐VO sensitivity for the detection of EVT‐VO was 69.9%. The CTA‐VO sensitivity for detecting patients with indication of EVT according to clinical guidelines was as follows: 91.7% for ICA occlusions and 84.4% for M1‐MCA occlusions. For all other occlusion sites that received EVT, the CTA‐VO sensitivity was 36.1%. The overall specificity was 95.3%. Among patients who received EVT, CTA‐VO was not detected in 31 cases, resulting in a false negative rate of 30.1%. False negative CTA‐VO cases had lower Tmax>6s volumes (69[46‐99.5] vs 126[84‐169.5]ml, p<0.001) and lower NIHSS (13[8.5‐16] vs 17[14‐21], p<0.001). Conclusions : Systematically including CTP perfusion in the acute stroke admission imaging protocols may increase the diagnosis of VO and rate of EVT.


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