Abstract WP441: Association Between Troponin Levels and Embolic Stroke of Undetermined Source

Background: Asymptomatic elevations in serum troponin levels often occur in patients with acute ischemic stroke. We evaluated whether patients with embolic strokes of undetermined source (ESUS) have higher rates of asymptomatic elevated troponin than patients with small- or large-vessel strokes. Methods: The Cornell AcutE Stroke Academic Registry (CAESAR) prospectively enrolled all adults with acute stroke at Weill Cornell Medical Center from 2011 to 2014. The etiology of stroke was retrospectively ascertained by two independent neurologists, with a third resolving any disagreements. We included patients with ESUS and, as controls, those with small- or large-vessel strokes. We defined an asymptomatic troponin elevation as a value exceeding our laboratory’s upper limit (0.04 ng/mL) within 24 hours of presentation, in the absence of a clinically recognized acute myocardial infarction. We used the chi-square test to compare rates of elevated troponin in patients with ESUS versus controls. Multiple logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between ESUS and elevated troponin after adjustment for demographics, NIH Stroke Scale score, insular infarction, and vascular risk factors. In a sensitivity analysis, we excluded patients diagnosed with atrial fibrillation during ambulatory heart-rhythm monitoring. Results: Among 547 patients, 258 (47.3%) had ESUS and 285 (52.7%) had a small- or large-vessel stroke. Patients with ESUS were younger (mean age 65.7 vs. 69.6 years) and more often female, and had equally severe strokes, higher rates of insular infarctions, and fewer vascular risk factors. In univariate analysis, patients with ESUS more often had an elevated troponin than controls (14.7% versus 8.0%; P = 0.01). After adjustment for demographics, stroke severity, insular involvement, and vascular risk factors, ESUS remained associated with elevated troponin (OR, 2.44; 95%, 1.04-5.77). This result was unchanged in our sensitivity analysis. Conclusions: Elevations in serum troponin appear to be more common in patients with ESUS than in those with small- or large-artery strokes. Further research is required to understand the pathogenesis and significance of elevated troponin in patients with ESUS.

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Abstract P676: Rates of Preventable Thrombectomy in Acute Ischemic Stroke

Stroke ◽

10.1161/str.52.suppl_1.p676 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 52 (Suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Rakhee Lalla ◽

Ryan Dunlow ◽

Karen L Yarbrough ◽

Prachi Mehndiratta ◽

Michael S Phipps ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Risk Factor ◽

Vascular Disease ◽

Antiplatelet Agent ◽

Left Ventricular ◽

Vascular Risk Factors ◽

Large Vessel ◽

Favorable Outcome ◽

Vascular Risk ◽

History Of

Introduction: The AHA notes that more than 76% of strokes are the first occurrence. There are class 1 recommendations for the management of common risk factors such as atrial fibrillation (AF), hyperlipidemia (HLD), hypertension (HTN), diabetes (DM), and vascular disease. The purpose of this study is to investigate the percentage of large vessel strokes that are potentially preventable with adequate management of vascular risk factors. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted on all patients undergoing endovascular therapy (EVT) from 2012-2019. Data was collected on vascular risk factors present prior to admission including HTN, DM, HLD, AF, and smoking. Preventable stroke was defined as having at least one of the following: untreated AF, untreated HLD, poorly controlled HTN (presence of left ventricular hypertrophy on transthoracic echo), history of vascular disease not on an antiplatelet agent, poorly controlled DM (A1c>10), current smoking. Groups were compared based on age, sex and 90 day functional outcomes, with favorable outcome defined as mRS ≤ 2. Results: Our sample included 396 patients who underwent EVT (mean age 65, 50% female). 42% of patients with Afib were not on anticoagulation, 31% of patients with HLD were untreated, 39% of patients with HTN were poorly controlled, 27% of patients with a history of vascular disease were not on an antiplatelet, 14% of patients with DM were poorly controlled, and 46% of all patients were smokers. In total, 78% of patients had at least 1 poorly controlled risk factor and 37% had at least 2. There was no difference in rates of preventable stroke between males and females (48% vs 52%, p=0.30) and between age groups above and below 70 (40% vs 60%, p=0.68). 64% of patients with well controlled risk factors had a favorable outcome compared to 51% with at least one poorly controlled risk factor (p=0.03). Conclusions: Our data suggests that despite guidelines on management of vascular risk factors, a large number of these are poorly controlled prior to admission for large vessel stroke, leading to a potentially preventable procedure. Not only could improved primary prevention save the wide array of resources utilized in EVT, but it could also influence long term outcomes in this cohort of patients.

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Abstract P81: SARS-CoV-2 and Stroke Characteristics a Report From the Multinational COVID-19 Stroke Study Group

Stroke ◽

10.1161/str.52.suppl_1.p81 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 52 (Suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Shima Shahjouei ◽

Georgios K Tsivgoulis ◽

Ghasem Farahmand ◽

Eric Koza ◽

Ashkan Mowla ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Machine Learning ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Health Expenditure ◽

Mechanical Thrombectomy ◽

Vascular Risk Factors ◽

Stroke Severity ◽

Vascular Risk ◽

Stroke Patients ◽

Unsupervised Machine Learning ◽

Toast Criteria

Objective and Design: We conducted a multinational observational study on features of consecutive acute ischemic stroke (AIS), intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), and cerebral venous or sinus thrombosis (CVST) among SARS-CoV-2 infected patients. Main Outcome Measures: We investigated the association of demographics, clinical data, geographical regions, and countries’ health expenditure among AIS patients with the risk of large vessel occlusion (LVO), stroke severity as measured by National Institute of Health stroke scale (NIHSS), and stroke subtype as measured by the TOAST criteria. Additionally, we applied unsupervised machine learning algorithms to uncover possible similarities among stroke patients. Results: Among the 136 tertiary centers of 32 countries who participated in this study, 71 centers from 17 countries had at least one eligible stroke patient. Out of 432 patients included, 323(74.8%) had AIS, 91(21.1%) ICH, and 18(4.2%) CVST. Among 23 patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage, 16(69.5%) had no evidence of aneurysm. A total of 183(42.4%) patients were women, 104(24.1%) patients were younger than 55 years, and 105(24.4%) patients had no identifiable vascular risk factors. Among 380 patients who had known interval onset of the SARS-CoV-2 and stroke, 144(37.8%) presented to the hospital with chief complaints of stroke-related symptoms, with asymptomatic or undiagnosed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Among AIS patients 44.5% had LVO; 10% had small artery occlusion according to the TOAST criteria. We observed a lower median NIHSS (8[3-17], versus 11[5-17]; p=0.02) and higher rate of mechanical thrombectomy (12.4% versus 2%; p<0.001) in countries with middle to high-health expenditure when compared to countries with lower health expenditure. The unsupervised machine learning identified 4 subgroups, with a relatively large group with no or limited comorbidities. Conclusions and Relevance: We observed a relatively high number of young, and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections among stroke patients. Traditional vascular risk factors were absent among a relatively large cohort of patients. The stroke severity was lower and rate of mechanical thrombectomy was higher among countries with middle to high-health expenditure.

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NCMP-06. THE RISK AND BURDEN OF THROMBOEMBOLIC AND HEMORRHAGIC EVENTS IN PATIENTS WITH MALIGNANT GLIOMA RECEIVING BEVACIZUMAB

Neuro-Oncology ◽

10.1093/neuonc/noab196.579 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 23 (Supplement_6) ◽

pp. vi148-vi148

Author(s):

Alexander Ou ◽

Heather Lin ◽

Ying Yuan ◽

Charles Bornstein ◽

Kristin Alfaro-Munoz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Performance Status ◽

Univariate Analysis ◽

Vascular Complications ◽

Concurrent Chemotherapy ◽

Vascular Risk Factors ◽

Competing Risk ◽

Vascular Risk ◽

Acute Hemorrhage ◽

Increased Risk

Abstract BACKGROUND Patients with high-grade gliomas (HGG) often receive anti-angiogenic therapy with bevacizumab to slow disease progression and/or palliate neurological symptoms. Bevacizumab has been associated with an increased risk of two major vascular complications: venous thromboembolism (VTE) and intracranial hemorrhage (ICH). We sought to identify clinical, pathologic, and radiographic variables correlated with risk of either event occurring in patients with HGG receiving bevacizumab. METHODS We retrospectively identified 94 patients with HGG who received bevacizumab at our center from 2015-2021. Variables included demographics, performance status, IDH, MGMT, vascular risk factors, baseline anti-coagulant/anti-platelet use, concurrent chemotherapy, and presence of macrobleeds on MRI (>1 cm3 susceptibility) at the time of bevacizumab initiation. We conducted competing risk analysis using subdistribution hazard models with death as competing risk for ICH or VTE. The effects of covariates on the incidence of hemorrhage or VTE were evaluated in univariate and multivariate settings. RESULTS Of 94 patients, 36 (38.3%) and 27 (28.7%) developed VTE and ICH, respectively. 31 (33%) did not develop either. ICH and VTE events occurred after a mean of 4.46 and 5.94 cycles of bevacizumab, respectively. 20 had baseline anti-platelet/anticoagulant use, and 16 had prior VTEs. Patients with macrobleeds on MRI had a larger HR of developing acute hemorrhage [HR=2.368 (1.112, 5.043), p=0.0254]. Patients older than 50 trended toward larger HR of developing VTE in univariate analysis that approached significance [HR=1.799 (0.889, 3.637), p=0.1023]. Sex, performance status, IDH, MGMT, vascular risk factors, baseline anticoagulant/anti-platelet use and concurrent chemotherapy were not significantly associated with occurrence of VTE. CONCLUSIONS The presence of macrobleeds on MRI is associated with increased risk of developing acute ICH while on bevacizumab. Older age at diagnosis of HGG may be associated with an increased risk of VTE in patients receiving bevacizumab. Larger studies are needed to confirm these findings.

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Are morphologic features of recent small subcortical infarcts related to specific etiologic aspects?

Therapeutic Advances in Neurological Disorders ◽

10.1177/1756286419835716 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

pp. 175628641983571 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Sebastian Eppinger ◽

Thomas Gattringer ◽

Lena Nachbaur ◽

Simon Fandler ◽

Lukas Pirpamer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Basal Ganglia ◽

Cerebral Circulation ◽

Vascular Risk Factors ◽

Large Artery ◽

Vascular Risk ◽

Mri Features ◽

Artery Disease ◽

Brain Artery ◽

Posterior Cerebral Circulation

Background: Recent small subcortical infarcts (RSSIs) mostly result from the occlusion of a single, small, brain artery due to intrinsic cerebral small-vessel disease (CSVD). Some RSSIs may be attributable to other causes such as cardiac embolism or large-artery disease, and their association with coexisting CSVD and vascular risk factors may vary with morphological magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features. Methods: We retrospectively identified all inpatients with a single symptomatic MRI-confirmed RSSI between 2008 and 2013. RSSIs were rated for size, shape, location (i.e. anterior: basal ganglia and centrum semiovale posterior cerebral circulation: thalamus and pons) and MRI signs of concomitant CSVD. In a further step, clinical data, including detailed diagnostic workup and vascular risk factors, were analyzed with regard to RSSI features. Results: Among 335 RSSI patients (mean age 71.1 ± 12.1 years), 131 (39%) RSSIs were >15 mm in axial diameter and 66 (20%) were tubular shaped. Atrial fibrillation (AF) was present in 44 (13.1%) and an ipsilateral vessel stenosis > 50% in 30 (9%) patients. Arterial hypertension and CSVD MRI markers were more frequent in patients with anterior-circulation RSSIs, whereas diabetes was more prevalent in posterior-circulation RSSIs. Larger RSSIs occurred more frequently in the basal ganglia and pons, and the latter were associated with signs of large-artery atherosclerosis. Patients with concomitant AF had no specific MRI profile. Conclusion: Our findings suggest the contribution of different pathophysiological mechanisms to the occurrence of RSSIs in the anterior and posterior cerebral circulation. While there appears to be some general association of larger infarcts in the pons with large-artery disease, we found no pattern suggestive of AF in RSSIs.

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Prevalence of the Frank’s sign by aetiopathogenic stroke subtype: A prospective analysis

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0261080 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (12) ◽

pp. e0261080

Author(s):

Laura Sánchez-Cirera ◽

Saima Bashir ◽

Adina Ciscar ◽

Carla Marco ◽

Verónica Cruz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Ischaemic Stroke ◽

Acute Stroke ◽

Haemorrhagic Stroke ◽

Vascular Risk Factors ◽

Vascular Risk ◽

Stroke Subtype ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Stroke Subtypes ◽

Artery Disease

Background and purpose The Frank’s sign is a diagonal earlobe crease running from the tragus to the edge of the auricle at an angle of 45°. Many studies have associated this sign with coronary artery disease and some with cerebrovascular disease. The objective of this study was to analyse the prevalence of the Frank’s sign in patients suffering from acute stroke with a particular focus on its prevalence in each of the five aetiopathogenic stroke subtypes. Special interest is given to embolic stroke of undetermined source (ESUS), correlating the sign with clinical and radiological markers that support an underlying causal profile in this subgroup. Methods Cross-sectional descriptive study including 124 patients admitted consecutively to a stroke unit after suffering an acute stroke. The Frank’s sign was evaluated by the same blinded member of the research team from photographs taken of the patients. The stroke subtype was classified following SSS-TOAST criteria and the aetiological study was performed following the ESO guidelines. Results The Frank’s sign was present in 75 patients and was more prevalent in patients with an ischaemic stroke in comparison with haemorrhagic stroke (63.9 vs. 37.5, p<0.05). A similar prevalence was found in the different ischaemic stroke subtypes. The Frank’s sign was significantly associated with age, particularly in patients older than 70 who had vascular risk factors. Atherosclerotic plaques found in carotid ultrasonography were significantly more frequent in patients with the Frank’s sign (63.6%, p<0.05). Analysing the ESUS, we also found an association with age and a higher prevalence of the Frank’s sign in patients with vascular risk factors and a tendency to a high prevalence of atherosclerosis markers. Conclusion The Frank’s sign is prevalent in all aetiopathogenic ischaemic stroke subtypes, including ESUS, where it could be helpful in suspecting the underlying cardioembolic or atherothrombotic origin and guiding the investigation of atherosclerosis in patients with ESUS and the Frank’s sign.

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SARS-CoV-2 and Stroke Characteristics: A Report from the Multinational COVID-19 Stroke Study Group

10.1101/2020.08.05.20169169 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Shima Shahjouei ◽

Georgios Tsivgoulis ◽

Ghasem Farahmand ◽

Eric Koza ◽

Ashkhan Mowla ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Machine Learning ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Health Expenditure ◽

Mechanical Thrombectomy ◽

Vascular Risk Factors ◽

Stroke Severity ◽

Vascular Risk ◽

Stroke Patients ◽

Unsupervised Machine Learning ◽

Toast Criteria

Background: Stroke is reported as a consequence of SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, there is a lack of regarding comprehensive stroke phenotype and characteristics Methods: We conducted a multinational observational study on features of consecutive acute ischemic stroke (AIS), intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), and cerebral venous or sinus thrombosis (CVST) among SARS-CoV-2 infected patients. We further investigated the association of demographics, clinical data, geographical regions, and countrie's health expenditure among AIS patients with the risk of large vessel occlusion (LVO), stroke severity as measured by National Institute of Health stroke scale (NIHSS), and stroke subtype as measured by the TOAST criteria. Additionally, we applied unsupervised machine learning algorithms to uncover possible similarities among stroke patients. Results: Among the 136 tertiary centers of 32 countries who participated in this study, 71 centers from 17 countries had at least one eligible stroke patient. Out of 432 patients included, 323(74.8%) had AIS, 91(21.1%) ICH, and 18(4.2%) CVST. Among 23 patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage, 16(69.5%) had no evidence of aneurysm. A total of 183(42.4%) patients were women, 104(24.1%) patients were younger than 55 years, and 105(24.4%) patients had no identifiable vascular risk factors. Among 380 patients who had known interval onset of the SARS-CoV-2 and stroke, 144(37.8%) presented to the hospital with chief complaints of stroke-related symptoms, with asymptomatic or undiagnosed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Among AIS patients 44.5% had LVO; 10% had small artery occlusion according to the TOAST criteria. We observed a lower median NIHSS (8[3-17], versus 11[5-17]; p=0.02) and higher rate of mechanical thrombectomy (12.4% versus 2%; p<0.001) in countries with middle to high-health expenditure when compared to countries with lower health expenditure. The unsupervised machine learning identified 4 subgroups, with a relatively large group with no or limited comorbidities. Conclusions: We observed a relatively high number of young, and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections among stroke patients. Traditional vascular risk factors were absent among a relatively large cohort of patients. Among hospitalized patients, the stroke severity was lower and rate of mechanical thrombectomy was higher among countries with middle to high-health expenditure.

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Abstract TP166: The Topmost Modifiable Risk Factors for Stroke Among People of African Ancestry

Stroke ◽

10.1161/str.48.suppl_1.tp166 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Mayowa O Owolabi ◽

Fred S Sarfo ◽

Onoja Akpa ◽

Mulugeta Gebregziabher ◽

Rufus Akinyemi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

African Ancestry ◽

Vascular Risk Factors ◽

Systematic Evaluation ◽

Modifiable Risk Factors ◽

Large Artery ◽

Vascular Risk ◽

Geographical Variations ◽

Catchment Areas ◽

The Impact

Background: Regional and geographical variations exist in stroke burden and risk factor distribution. The unique and dominant risk factors for stroke among people of African ancestry where the burden of stroke is escalating, are poorly understood. Such information is crucial in prioritizing tailor-made interventions to tackle the menace of stroke in developing countries. Purpose: We aimed to identify and quantify the contributions of the topmost modifiable risk factors for stroke occurrence in people of African ancestry within the context of the Stroke Investigative Research and Educational Network (SIREN), the largest study of stroke in Africa. Methods: The SIREN study is an ongoing, multicenter, case-control study involving several sites in Nigeria and Ghana. Cases included adults aged >18 years with first clinical stroke within 8 days of current symptom onset with CT scan confirmation. Controls were stroke-free adults, mostly from the communities in the catchment areas of the SIREN hospitals where cases were recruited. A systematic evaluation of traditional vascular risk factors as well as lifestyle and behavioral factors were assessed for cases and controls. Results: 1,638 cases and 1,653 controls with mean ages of 58.52 and 57.76 years respectively were recruited. Ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke types constituted 62.4% and 36.1% of stroke respectively. Among ischemic stroke subjects, 45.7%, 36.3%, 13.6%, 1.0% and 3.4% had small-vessel, large-artery atherosclerosis, cardio-embolic, others and unknown subtypes according to the TOAST classification. Leading vascular risk factors identified among stroke subjects compared with controls were hypertension- 79.3% vs 34.6%, p<0.001; Dyslipidemia 20.8% vs 6.6%, p<0.001; Diabetes mellitus- 24.4% vs 12.8% and history of cardiac diseases 15.4% vs 7.9%, p<0.001. Adjusted ORs (95% CI) for hypertension, dyslipidemia, cardiac disease and diabetes among stroke subjects compared with controls were 6.43 (5.84-7.54), 2.08 (1.61-2.69), 1.48 (1.15-1.91) and 1.29 (1.05-1.60) respectively. Conclusion: Implementation of interventions towards mitigating the impact of vascular risk factors at the population level would be essential in curtailing the growing burden of stroke in Africans.

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Abstract 7: Association Between Incidence, Severity and Recurrence of Ischemic Stroke and Risk of Dementia: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

Stroke ◽

10.1161/str.52.suppl_1.7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 52 (Suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Silvia Koton ◽

James R Pike ◽

Michelle C Johansen ◽

David Knopman ◽

Kamakshi Lakshminarayan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Ischemic Stroke ◽

Cox Proportional Hazards ◽

Vascular Risk Factors ◽

Stroke Severity ◽

Vascular Risk ◽

Atherosclerosis Risk In Communities ◽

Expert Review ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Atherosclerosis Risk

Background: Ischemic Stroke (IS) is associated with an increased risk of dementia, but the relative contribution of IS severity or recurrence to cognition is not known. We aimed to determine the risk of dementia after incident IS and how it varies by stroke severity and recurrence in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study. Methods: 15,405 ARIC participants free of stroke and dementia at baseline (1987-9) were followed for IS and dementia through 2019. Incident and recurrent IS were classified by expert review of hospital records, with stroke severity by the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) classified as NIHSS≤5, 6-10, 11-15, ≥16. Dementia cases were adjudicated through expert review of in-person evaluations, informant interviews, phone assessments, hospitalization code or death certificates. Poisson regression models with robust error variance were used to estimate dementia incidence in participants with and without IS, and associations between time-dependent IS incidence (excluding dementia in the first year after stroke), frequency and severity, and dementia were studied with Cox proportional hazards models, adjusting for demographics, APOE ε4 and vascular risk factors . Results: 1151 IS (970 incident) and 2807 dementia cases were identified. NIHSS was available for 877 IS (76%). Adjusted incidence rates (95% CI) of dementia per 100 person-years were 0.45 (0.42-0.49) in participants without IS vs. 1.33 (1.15-1.55) in those with IS. Compared to no IS, risk of dementia (adjusted HR, 95% CI) increased with IS number and severity from 1.71 (1.47-1.99) for participants with one IS to 6.68 (3.58-12.46) for those with ≥3 events, and from 1.64 (1.36-1.98) for NIHSS≤5 to 4.43 (1.84-10.68) for NIHSS≥16 ( Table ). Conclusion: Risk of dementia is significantly increased after stroke, independent of vascular risk factors. These data suggest a dose-response relationship between number of stroke events and stroke severity, and risk of dementia.

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Abstract W MP58: The Relationship Between Carotid Stiffness, Diastolic Diameter, and White Matter Hyperintensity Volume: The Northern Manhattan Study

Stroke ◽

10.1161/str.45.suppl_1.wmp58 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 45 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Matthew S Markert ◽

Chuanhui Dong ◽

David Della-Morte ◽

Eugene Roberts ◽

Susanne Bartels ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

White Matter ◽

Small Vessel Disease ◽

Vascular Risk Factors ◽

Small Vessel ◽

White Matter Hyperintensity ◽

Large Artery ◽

Vascular Risk ◽

Vessel Disease ◽

Carotid Stiffness

Background: Changes in the extracranial vasculature may be associated with small vessel disease in the brain. We sought to examine the association of carotid stiffness and carotid diastolic diameter with white matter hyperintensity volume (WMHV), a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measure for cerebral small vessel disease, in a multi-ethnic community-based cohort. Methods: We evaluated 1140 stroke-free participants in the Northern Manhattan study who underwent brain MRIs and high-resolution carotid ultrasounds. We used linear regression to examine carotid stiffness and diastolic diameter with WMHV after adjusting for sociodemographics, lifestyle behaviors, and traditional vascular risk factors. Results: Among 1140 participants (mean age: 70.6±9.0 years; 61% women; 15% White, 16% Black, 59% Hispanics), the mean carotid stiffness was 8.19 ± 5.39, mean carotid diastolic diameter was 6.16 ± 0.93 mm, and mean WMHV 0.68 ± 0.84. In a fully adjusted model, diastolic diameter was associated with log-WMHV (β=0.10, p=0.001). In a stratified multivariable linear model, greater carotid arterial stiffness and diastolic diameter were associated with log-WMHV among Hispanics (β=0.15, p=0.005 and β=0.13, p<0.001, respectively), but not among blacks or whites. Conclusion: Greater carotid stiffness and diastolic diameter were associated with greater WMHV independent of demographics and traditional vascular risk factors, especially among Hispanics. Further studies are needed to understand how these large artery characteristics relate to WMH formation and lesion load. Carotid ultrasound may be a useful tool to assess the risk of increased brain white matter disease in a pre-clinical stage.

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Abstract 26: RACE to Treat Stroke

Stroke ◽

10.1161/str.47.suppl_1.26 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 47 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Andrea M Korsnack ◽

Andrea Adams

Keyword(s):

Endovascular Treatment ◽

Acute Stroke ◽

Arterial Occlusion ◽

First Responders ◽

Artery Occlusion ◽

Large Vessel ◽

Stroke Severity ◽

Large Artery ◽

Stroke Patients ◽

Conversion Disorders

Background: Endovascular treatment was shown to drastically improve stroke patient outcomes but earlier identification of eligible patients is crucial. First responders are instrumental to the rapid identification and transportation of stroke patients to the nearest appropriate facility for acute stroke care especially when endovascular intervention is an option. Purpose: To develop and evaluate the effectiveness of an algorithm for first responders to use to differentiate which stroke patients should be transported to the closest Interventional Stroke Center for treatment. Method: We revised the County-Level Emergency Medical Services (EMS) protocol and algorithm to include the Rapid Arterial oCclusion Evaluation (RACE) scale in addition to the Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale (CPPS). Together these simple in-the-field scales assess stroke severity and identify patients with acute stroke and large artery occlusion in a prehospital setting. Lucas County EMS staff received a four hour block of continuing education with credit on acute stroke, the updated protocol and algorithm, and use of the new RACE scale in addition to the CPPS. Effectiveness of the training and use of the RACE alert was measured by the percent of patients accurately identified with and without large artery occlusion. Results: Training was provided to 450 EMS staff in several in-person sessions in June 2015. The RACE protocol went citywide on July first. Of the 18 patients brought in to our hospital by EMS in July using the RACE protocol, 72% were identified correctly using the tool. Of these, 6 were identified correctly as having large vessel occlusions and 7 were correctly identified as not having large vessel occlusions. The remaining 5 patients transported by EMS were identified as large vessel occlusions, but were not found to have strokes (seizures, intoxication, and conversion disorders). Conclusion: Our data suggests that first responders can accurately differentiate between which stroke patients could benefit from endovascular treatment using a simple algorithm. Future evaluation could measure the relationship between accurate pre-hospital identification and treatment rates.

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