Abstract WP71: Intravenous Thrombolysis in Stroke-mimics: Is There a Relationship With Door-to-needle Time?

Stroke ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisa Campos-Costa ◽  
Carmen Labandeira-Guerra ◽  
Cristina Martínez-Reglero ◽  
Sandra Boned ◽  
Maria Muchada ◽  
...  

Introduction: Several non-vascular conditions may mimic the sudden neurological deficits of stroke (stroke mimics, SM). In Stroke Code, time to treatment is crucial, but the efforts to increase the benefits of iv-tPA may lead to inadvertent treatment of SM. We aim to determine the relationship between door-to-needle (DTN) time and SM treatment. Methods: Retrospective analysis of all acute stroke patients treated with iv-tPA included in an institutional prospective database. SM were identified during follow-up and their clinical characteristics compared with the confirmed stroke patients in the same time-period. Results: During a 3-year period, 332 thrombolysed patients were included. Twenty-two were SM (6.6%, 95%CI:4.0%-9.3%), with median age of 58 years (range 35-87), 54.5% were men, median NIHSS=10 (range 3-30). Sudden (81.8%) neurological deficits were motor in 11 patients (52.2%), altered speech in 10 (47.6%) and sensitive in 7 (33.3%). Baseline clinical characteristics (including age, sex, vascular risk factors and initial NIHSS) were similar between stroke and SM groups. Multimodal imaging was used for treatment decision in 95.5% of SM (CT-perfusion 10 patients, CT-angiography 9, MRI 1 and only 1 patient received just non-contrast CT) vs 74.1% of confirmed strokes (p=0.014). Four SM patients presented with neuroimaging abnormalities. DTN of SM was similar to those of strokes (35.5 VS. 40minutes, p=0.6). Despite a progressive decrease in median DTN time (year 1: 47min vs year 3: 36min; p=0.02) the rate of SM treated with tPA did not increase (year 1: 5.4% vs 9% in year 3; p=0.1). No intracranial haemorrhage or other complications were recorded in any SM patient. At discharge, 86.4% of SM presented a modified Rankin Scale 0-1. The most frequent final diagnosis were: migraine (31.8%), functional symptoms (27.3%) and seizures (27.3%). Conclusions: Despite multimodal neuroimaging, stat differentiation between SM and stroke is still difficult. Reduction of DTN times may not necessarily increase the number of SM thrombolysed. Nevertheless, iv-tPA revealed to be safe in SM and should not be delayed in case of doubt.

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Bivard ◽  
Christopher Levi ◽  
Longting Lin ◽  
Xin Cheng ◽  
Richard Aviv ◽  
...  

In the present study we sought to measure the relative statistical value of various multimodal CT protocols at identifying treatment responsiveness in patients being considered for thrombolysis. We used a prospectively collected cohort of acute ischemic stroke patients being assessed for IV-alteplase, who had CT-perfusion (CTP) and CT-angiography (CTA) before a treatment decision. Linear regression and receiver operator characteristic curve analysis were performed to measure the prognostic value of models incorporating each imaging modality. One thousand five hundred and sixty-two sub-4.5 h ischemic stroke patients were included in this study. A model including clinical variables, alteplase treatment, and NCCT ASPECTS was weak (R2 0.067, P < 0.001, AUC 0.605) at predicting 90 day mRS. A second model, including dynamic CTA variables (collateral grade, occlusion severity) showed better predictive accuracy for patient outcome (R2 0.381, P < 0.001, AUC 0.781). A third model incorporating CTP variables showed very high predictive accuracy (R2 0.488, P < 0.001, AUC 0.899). Combining all three imaging modalities variables also showed good predictive accuracy for outcome but did not improve on the CTP model (R2 0.439, P < 0.001, AUC 0.825). CT perfusion predicts patient outcomes from alteplase therapy more accurately than models incorporating NCCT and/or CT angiography. This data has implications for artificial intelligence or machine learning models.


Stroke ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lila E Sheikhi ◽  
Stacey Winners ◽  
Pravin George ◽  
Andrew Russman ◽  
Zeshaun Khawaja ◽  
...  

Background: A mobile stroke unit (MSU) allows for early delivery for intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV-tPA). A proportion of IV-tPA treated patients may turn out to be stroke mimics. We evaluated the rate and complications seen in stroke mimics treated with tPA from our early experience on MSU. Methods: Retrospective review of patients treated with IV-tPA on the MSU from 2014 to 2016. Charts were reviewed for confirmed strokes by imaging (MRI or CT) and hemorrhagic transformation. Stroke mimics were defined as those without imaging evidence of infarction and a final diagnosis which was not suspected to be stroke. Results: Among 62 patients treated with IV-tPA, 14 (28.6%) had a final diagnosis consistent with a stroke mimics. The majority of these occurred in the first year of the MSU program. Most common mimics included conversion disorder (n=5) and seizures (n=5). While the last known well to IV-tPA times were similar, the MSU door-to-needle time was significantly longer in stroke mimics (38 vs 31 minutes, p = 0.03). No intracerebral hemorrhages or other IV-tPA related complications were identified in the stroke mimics group. Conclusions: In our early experience with MSU, treatment of stroke mimics occurred without IV-tPA related complications. This does not appear to be due to rushed decision making.


Stroke ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 46 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Raul Guisado ◽  
Reza Malek ◽  
Ursula Kelly-Tolley ◽  
Arash Padidar ◽  
Harmeet Sachdev

The safety and effectiveness of intravenous thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) has been established for populations older than 80 years of age . However, management of AIS in nonagenerians is not clear. Previous reports suggest that the rate of ICH after i.v. alteplase is not increased and the rate of early improvement is similar in nonagenerians compared to younger groups, but there is concern with overall mortality and functional outcomes. We report on 20 consecutive patients with AIS treated with i.v. alteplase within 3 hours of onset in two Comprehensive Stroke Centers in San Jose, CA. Methods: Patients were immediately evaluated by members of the Stroke Team of each hospital. . Patients were eligible if they had disabling neurological symptoms, no contraindications for i.v.alteplase and were independent in ADLs prior to the index event. Non-contrast CT brain scan, CT perfusion and CT angiography of head and neck were used to determine the presence of potentially salvageable brain. Results (Table): Mean age was 91 years (range 90 - 98 years). The initial NIHSS was 15.7 ± 6.8. The median NIHSS at hospital discharge was 7.4 ± 8.4 (p <0.001). The median door to needle time was 50.5 minutes (range 36 - 74 minutes). There was no hemorrhagic transformation and no in-hospital mortality. The overall mortality rate at 90 days was 30% (6 of 20 patients) and the rate of good outcome in survivors, defined as mRS ≤ 3 at 90 days was 35.7% (5 of 14 patients). Comment: Intravenous thrombolysis for ischemic stroke in nonagenerians is safe and effective, with good rates of immediate improvement. However, the l90 days mortality rate is high and the long term functional outcome is poor. This data can be useful in helping families make treatment decisions in the most elderly patients with acute ischemic stroke.


Stroke ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Rubiera ◽  
Alvaro Garcia-Tornell ◽  
Sandra Boned ◽  
Nicolas Romero ◽  
Pilar Coscojuela ◽  
...  

Good collateral circulation (CC) is a strong outcome predictor in acute stroke patients. CT angiography (CTA) is wide-world available but does not provide accurate information about parenchymal status. CT perfusion (CTP) is frequently used to determine ischemic core and tissue at risk. Our aim was to identify an easy and quick method to evaluate CC status by CTP. Methods: Consecutive ischemic stroke patients <8h from symptoms onset evaluated for reperfusion therapies were studied. Non-contrast CT, CTP and multiphase CTA were performed. Patients with confirmed M1-MCA or TICA occlusion on CTA were included. CC evaluation was determined by multiphase CTA (mCTA) according to the Calgary CC Scale and classified as poor (grades 0-2) or good (grades 3-5). In CTP maps, one single ipsi- and contralateral regions of interest (ROI) were defined in the MCA cortical territory (M4, M5, M6). We studied the association of absolute and relative to contralateral ROI-CTP values with CC degree determined by mCTA. Results: 33 patients were included, median NIHSS 17.5 (2-22). Twenty-five patients (75.8%) presented a M1 and 8 (24.2%) a TICA occlusion. On mCTA, 27 (81.8%) patients presented with a favourable CC status and 6 (18.2%) with poor CC. Mean ROI values in the ischemic MCA territory were: CBV 3.5±1.5 ml/100mg, CBF 46.9±29.3 ml/100mg/min, MTT 8.1±3.1 s, Tmax 23.2±4.4 s. In the contralateral non-ischemic MCA, the mean ROI values were: CBV 3.48±1.4, CBF 66.5±32.7, MTT 5.6±2.3, Tmax 20.4±4.8. Absolute and relative CBV-ROI data (relCBV= ischemic CBV value / contralateral CBV value) were the only values significantly associated with CC status on mCTA (good CC mean CBV: 3.8 ml/100g VS poor CC mean CBV: 1.9, p=0.006; good CC mean relCBV 1.1 vs poor CC mean relCBV 0.6, p=0.019). A ROC curve defined 2.5 ml/100mg as the better cut-off point of ROI-CBV that identified patients with good CC status (sensitivity 96%, specificity 84%, VPP 0.96, VPN 0.83). Patients with a ROI-CBV >2.5 presented lower median NIHSS after 24 hours (4 vs 18, p= 0.012) and smaller mean infarct volume on control CT (27.9 vs 88.3, p=0.021). Conclusion: A single cortical ROI-CBV allows an easy and quick accurate evaluation of collateral circulation in CTP. ROI-CBV>2.5 ml/100mg is related to good clinical and radiological outcomes.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2-6) ◽  
pp. 116-122
Author(s):  
Ameer E. Hassan ◽  
Hafsah Shamim ◽  
Haralabos Zacharatos ◽  
Saqib A. Chaudhry ◽  
Christina Sanchez ◽  
...  

Background: Studies have shown a lack of agreement of computed tomography perfusion (CTP) in the selection of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients for endovascular treatment. Purpose: To demonstrate whether non-contrast computed tomography (CT) within 8 h of symptom onset is comparable to CTP imaging. Methods: Prospective study of consecutive anterior circulation AIS patients with a National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score > 7 presenting within 8 h of symptom onset with endovascular treatment. All patients had non-contrast CT, CT angiography, and CTP. The neuro-interventionalist was blinded to the results of the CTP and based the treatment decision using the Alberta Stroke Program Early CT score (ASPECTS). Baseline demographics, co-morbidities, and baseline NIHSS scores were collected. Outcomes were modified Rankin scale (mRS) score at discharge and in-hospital mortality. Good outcomes were defined as a mRS score of 0–2. Results: 283 AIS patients were screened for the trial, and 119 were enrolled. The remaining patients were excluded for: posterior circulation stroke, no CTP performed, could not obtain consent, and NIHSS score < 7. Mean ­NIHSS score at admission was 16.8 ± 3, and mean ASPECTS was 8.4 ± 1.4. There was no statistically significant correlation with CTP penumbra and good outcomes: 50 versus 47.8% with no penumbra present (p = 0.85). In patients without evidence of CTP penumbra, there was 22.5% mortality compared to 22.1% mortality in patients with a CTP penumbra. If ASPECTS ≥7, 64.6% had good outcome versus 13.3% if ASPECTS < 7 (p < 0.001). Patients with an ASPECTS ≥7 had 10% mortality versus 51.4% in patients with an ASPECTS < 7 (p < 0.001). Conclusions: CTP penumbra did not identify patients who would benefit from endovascular treatment when patients were selected with non-contrast CT ASPECTS ≥7. There is no correlation of CTP penumbra with good outcomes or mortality. Larger prospective trials are warranted to justify the use of CTP within 6 h of symptom onset.


2014 ◽  
Vol 3 (7) ◽  
pp. 204798161454321
Author(s):  
Ratnesh Mehra ◽  
Chiu Yuen To ◽  
Omar Qahwash ◽  
Boyd Richards ◽  
Richard D Fessler

Background Computed tomography perfusion (CTP) is a commonly used modality of neurophysiologic imaging to aid the selection of acute ischemic stroke patients for neuroendovascular intervention by identifying the presence of penumbra versus infarcted brain tissue. However many patients present with evidence of cerebral ischemia with normal CTP, and in that case, should intravenous thrombolytics be given? Purpose To demonstrate if tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA)-eligible stroke patients without perfusion defects demonstrated on CTP would benefit from administration of intravenous thrombolytics. Material and Methods We retrospectively identified patients presenting with acute ischemic symptoms who received intravenous tPA (IV-tPA) from January to June 2012 without a perfusion defect on CTP. Clinical and radiographic findings including the NIHSS at presentation, 24 h, and at discharge, symptomatic and asymptomatic hemorrhagic transformation, and the modified Rankin score at 30 days were collected. A reduction of NIHSS of greater than 4 points or resolution of symptoms was considered significant. Results Seventeen patients were identified with a mean NIHSS of 8.2 prior to administration of intravenous thrombolytics, 3.5 after 24 h, and 2.5 at discharge. Among them, 13 patients had significant improvement of NIHSS with a mean reduction of 6.15 points at 24 h. One patient initially improved but had delayed hemorrhagic transformation and died. Two patients had improvement in NIHSS but were not significant and two patients had increased in NIHSS at 24 h, although one eventually improved at discharge. There was no asymptomatic hemorrhagic transformation. Mean mRS at 3 months is 1.76. Conclusion The failure to identify a perfusion deficit by CTP should not be used as a contraindication for intravenous thrombolytics. Criteria for administration of intravenous thrombolytics should still be based on time from symptom onset as previously published by NINDS.


2015 ◽  
Vol 40 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 182-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harri Rusanen ◽  
Jukka T. Saarinen ◽  
Niko Sillanpää

Background: We studied the impact of collateral circulation on CT perfusion (CTP) parametric maps and the amount of salvaged brain tissue, the imaging and clinical outcome at 24 h and at 3 months in a retrospective acute (<3 h) stroke cohort (105 patients) with anterior circulation thrombus treated with intravenous thrombolysis. Methods: Baseline clinical and imaging information were collected and groups with different collateral scores (CS) were compared. Binary logistic regression analyses using good CS (CS ≥2) as the dependent variable were calculated. Results: CTP Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) was successfully assessed in 58 cases. Thirty patients displayed good CS. Poor CS were associated with more severe strokes according to National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) at arrival (15 vs. 7, p = 0.005) and at 24 h (10 vs. 3, p = 0.003) after intravenous thrombolysis. Good CS were associated with a longer mean onset-to-treatment time (141 vs. 121 min, p = 0.009) and time to CTP (102 vs. 87 min, p = 0.047), better cerebral blood volume (CBV) ASPECTS (9 vs. 6, p < 0.001), better mean transit time (MTT) ASPECTS (6 vs. 3, p < 0.001), better noncontrast CT (NCCT) ASPECTS (10 vs. 8, p < 0.001) at arrival and with favorable clinical outcome at 3 months (modified Rankin Scale ≤2, p = 0.002). The fraction of penumbra that was salvageable at arrival and salvaged at 24 h was higher with better CS (p < 0.001 and p = 0.035, respectively). In multivariate analysis, time from the onset of symptoms to imaging (p = 0.037, OR 1.04 per minute, 95% CI 1.00-1.08) and CBV ASPECTS (p = 0.001, OR 2.11 per ASPECTS point, 95% CI 1.33-3.34) predicted good CS. In similar multivariable models, MTT ASPECTS (p = 0.04, OR 1.46 per ASPECTS point, 95% CI 1.02-2.10) and NCCT ASPECTS predicted good CS (p = 0.003, OR 4.38 per CT ASPECTS point, 95% CI 1.66-11.55) along with longer time from the onset of symptoms to imaging (p = 0.045, OR 1.03 per minute, 95% CI 1.00-1.06 and p = 0.02, OR 1.05 per minute, 95% CI 1.00-1.09, respectively). CBV ASPECTS had a larger area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for good CS (0.837) than NCCT ASPECTS (0.802) or MTT ASPECTS (0.752) at arrival. Conclusions: Favorable CBV ASPECTS, NCCT ASPECTS and MTT ASPECTS are associated with good CS along with more salvageable tissue and longer time from the onset of symptoms to imaging in ischemic stroke patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Runnan Li ◽  
Chunyan Han ◽  
Xiuying Cai ◽  
Yan Kong ◽  
Lulu Zhang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Up to 30% of patients with mild ischemic stroke suffer neurologic deterioration. However, optimal medical approaches of such patients remain controversial given the efficacy and safety of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT). The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether patients with acute mild stroke stratified with ABCD2 score (the risk of stroke on basis of age, blood pressure, clinical features, duration of symptoms, and presence of diabetes mellitus) could benefit from IVT. Methods: Among 3321 patients with a final diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke, we retrospectively included 224 patients identified with acute mild neurologic deficits (National Institution of Health Stroke Scale, NIHSS ≤5) treated with or without IVT. Odds ratios (OR) with their confidence intervals (CI) for outcomes between groups were assessed by using multivariable binary logistic regression analyses. And the heterogeneity of treatment effect magnitude for excellent outcome at 90d (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] 0-1) was estimated in different subgroups. Results: A total of 224 cases were enrolled, 106 receiving IVT and 118 treated with secondary stroke prevention strategies alone. At 7d, 30 (28.3%) patients with IVT treatment versus 16 (13.6%) patients not receiving IVT achieved significant improvement (≥4-point NIHSS score decrease or complete resolution; OR, 2.448; 95%CI, 1.204-4.977; P=0.013). At 90d, excellent outcome was achieved in 83 (78.3%) patients treated with IVT versus 77 (65.35%) patients without IVT treatment (OR, 3.156; 95%CI, 1.526-6.528; P=0.002), especially in those with ABCD2 score ≥5 (OR, 2.768; 95%CI, 1.196-6.406; P=0.017) and with stroke subtype of large artery atherosclerosis (OR, 5.616; 95%CI, 1.080-29.210; P=0.040). Besides, 7(6.6%) IVT-treated patients versus 2 (1.7%) non-IVT-treated patients developed intracranial hemorrhage (ICH; P=0.359), among these only 1 (0.9%) was symptomatic ICH in IVT group. Conclusions: For acute mild ischemic stroke patients, we reassured the safety and especially the efficacy of IVT at 7- and 90-days. Patients with 5 or more of ABCD2 score and stroke subtype of large artery atherosclerosis might benefit more from IVT.


2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. e1.1-e1
Author(s):  
Graham McClelland ◽  
Darren Flynn ◽  
Helen Rodgers ◽  
Chris Price

BackgroundStroke mimics (SM) are non-stroke conditions producing similar symptoms to stroke. Prehospital stroke identification tools prioritise sensitivity over specificity, therefore >25% of prehospital suspected stroke patients are SM. Failure to identify SM Results in inefficient use of ambulances and specialist stroke services. We developed a pragmatic tool for paramedics, using information often available in the prehospital setting, to identify SM amongst suspected stroke patients.MethodsThe initial tool was developed using a systematic literature review to identify SM characteristics, a survey of UK paramedics to explore the acceptability of SM identification and regression analysis of clinical variables documented in ambulance records of suspected stroke patients linked to their primary hospital diagnoses (n=1,650, 40% SM).The initial tool was refined using two focus groups with paramedics (n=3) and hospital clinicians (n=9) and analysis of an expanded prehospital dataset (n=3,797, 41% SM) to produce the final STEAM tool.ResultsSTEAM scores six variables:1 point for Systolic blood pressure <90 mmHg1 point for Temperature >38.5°C with heart rate >90 bpm1 point for seizures or 2 points for seizures with diagnosed Epilepsy1 point for Age <40 years or 2 points for age <30 years1 point for headache with diagnosed Migraine1 point for FAST–veA score of ≥2 on STEAM predicted SM diagnosis in the expanded derivation dataset with 5.5% sensitivity, 99.6% specificity and positive predictive value (PPV) of 91.4%. STEAM was validated using an external dataset (n=1,848, 33% SM) of prehospital suspected stroke patients where STEAM was 5.5% sensitive, 99.4% specific with a PPV of 82.5%.ConclusionsSTEAM uses common clinical characteristics to identify a small number of SM patients with a high level of certainty. The benefits of reducing SM admissions to specialist stroke services should be weighed against delayed admission for the small number of stroke patients identified as a SM.


Stroke ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marek Cierny ◽  
Susan Fuhrman ◽  
Marc A Lazzaro

Introduction: Time-sensitive therapies can be delayed during weekends or off-hours. Regional systems of care require interfacility transfers from Primary Stroke Centers (PSC) to Comprehensive Stroke Centers (CSC). Door-in to door-out (DIDO) time, an emerging performance measure, is a modifiable factor in time to thrombectomy. Off-hours presentation has been associated with longer Door-To-Needle (DTN) time, however its effect on DIDO time is unknown. Hypothesis: Presentation during off-hours (before 8 AM, after 5 PM or on weekends) prolongs DIDO time. Methods: Retrospective review of transfers for CT perfusion or thrombectomy from 4 PSC to a CSC between 1/2017 and 6/2019. We used Mann-Whitney for hypothesis testing and Spearman’s correlation. Results: Sixty-seven persons were included, of which 36 were male, 31 received IV tPA, 40 presented during off-hours. Median (upper and lower quartile) for age, NIHSS, DTN and DIDO were 74 (61-83) years, 17 (12-23) points, 37 (31-54) and 98 (77-127) minutes, respectively. Off-hours presentation did not prolong DIDO time (p=0.32, image) nor affect any interval in the sequence door-in, non-contrast CT (nCT), IV tPA, CT Angiogram (CTA) initiation, CTA interpretation, door-out; or door-in at PSC to groin puncture (DTGP) time. Transport from PSC to CSC was slower off-hours (p=0.04). On post-hoc analyses, DIDO correlated with door-in to nCT interpretation time (r s =0.27, p=0.02), nCT interpretation to consulting neurointerventionalist (r s =0.59, p<0.01) and their acceptance of a transfer (r s =0.37, p=0.01); door-in to CTA initiation (r s =0.77, p<0.01), CTA initiation to interpretation (r s =0.61, p<0.01), and DTGP time (r s =0.85, p<0.01). Conclusions: Off-hours presentation is not associated with prolonged DIDO time in patients transferred for possible thrombectomy. Time to calling neurointerventionalist and initiation and interpretation of CTA contributes to DIDO, and may be targets for improvement to expedite transfers.


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