EXPRESS: Cerebral microbleeds development after stroke thrombolysis: A secondary analysis of the THAWS randomized clinical trial

2021 ◽  
pp. 174749302110350
Author(s):  
Kaori Miwa ◽  
Masatoshi Koga ◽  
Manabu Inoue ◽  
Sohei Yoshimura ◽  
Makoto Sasaki ◽  
...  

Background and aim: We determined to investigate the incidence and clinical impact of new cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) after intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) in patients with acute stroke. Methods: The THAWS was a multicenter, randomized trial to study the efficacy and safety of IVT with alteplase in patients with wake-up stroke or unknown onset stroke. Prescheduled T2*-weighted imaging assessed CMBs at 3-time points: baseline, 22–36 hours, and 7–14 days. Outcomes included new CMBs development, modified Rankin Scale [mRS] ≥3 at 90 days, and change in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale [NIHSS] score from 24 h to 7 days. Results: Of all 131 patients randomized in the THAWS trial, 113 patients (mean 74.3±12.6 years, 50 female, 62 allocated to IVT) were available for analysis. Overall, 46 (41%) had baseline CMBs (15 strictly lobar CMBs, 14 mixed CMBs, and 17 deep CMBs). New CMBs only emerged in the IVT group (7 patients, 11%) within a median of 28.3 h, and did not additionally increase within a median of 7.35 days. In adjusted models, number of CMBs (relative risk [RR]1.30, 95%confidence interval [CI]: 1.17–1.44), mixed distribution (RR 19.2, 95%CI: 3.94–93.7), and CMBs burden ≥5 (RR 44.9, 95%CI: 5.78–349.8) were associated with new CMBs. New CMBs was associated with an increase in NIHSS score (p=0.023). Treatment with alteplase in patients with baseline ≥5 CMBs resulted in a numerical shift toward worse outcomes on ordinal mRS (median [IQR]; 4 [3–4] vs. 0 [0–3]), compared with those with <5 CMBs (common odds ratio 17.1, 95% CI: 0.76 –382.8). The association of baseline ≥5 CMBs with ordinal mRS score differed according to the treatment group (P interaction=0.042). Conclusion: New CMBs developed within 36 h in 11% of the patients after IVT, and they were significantly associated with mixed-distribution and ≥5 CMBs. New CMBs development might impede neurological improvement. Furthermore, CMBs burden might affect the effect of alteplase.

2012 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. E16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haitham Dababneh ◽  
Waldo R. Guerrero ◽  
Anna Khanna ◽  
Brian L. Hoh ◽  
J Mocco

Object Approximately 25% of patients with middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion will have a concomitant internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion, and 50% of patients with an ICA occlusion will have a proximal MCA occlusion. Cervical ICA occlusion with MCA embolic occlusion is associated with a low rate of recanalization and poor outcome after intravenous thrombolysis. The authors report their experience with acute ischemic stroke patients who suffered tandem ICA/MCA (TIM) occlusions and underwent intravenous thrombolysis followed by extracranial ICA angioplasty and intracranial MCA mechanical thrombectomy. Methods In a retrospective analysis of their stroke database (2008–2011), the authors identified 2 patients with TIM occlusion treated with intravenous thrombolysis followed by extracranial ICA angioplasty and intracranial mechanical thrombectomy. They examined early neurological improvement defined by a greater than 10-point reduction of National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score and an improved modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at 60 days. Successful recanalization based on thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (TICI) score of 2 or 3 was also evaluated. Results In both patients a TICI score of 2b or 3 was achieved, signifying successful recanalization. In addition, both patients had a reduction in the NIHSS score by greater than 10 points and an mRS score of 0 at 60 days. Conclusions Tandem occlusions of the cervical ICA and MCA may be successfully treated using the multimodality approach of intravenous thrombolysis followed by extracranial ICA angioplasty and intracranial mechanical thrombectomy.


Author(s):  
Sara Esmaeili ◽  
Motahareh Afrakhteh ◽  
Maryam Bahadori ◽  
Seyedeh Fahimeh Shojaei ◽  
Rezan Ashayeri ◽  
...  

Background: A number of patients with symptoms of acute cerebral ischemia may have other causes called stroke mimics (SM). The prevalence of SM can be as high as 31% in some reports, and these patients are potentially at the risk of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) therapy and its complications. This study was designed to determine the prevalence of our center’s SM (Firoozgar Hospital) among patients who received IVT, their baseline characteristics, final diagnoses, and outcomes. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of all patients who received IVT between June 2015 and May 2018. The following variables were collected: demographic characteristics, past medical history, onset-to-needle (OTN) time, door-to-needle (DTN) time, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score at admission, brain imaging, and all paraclinic findings. Functional outcome at discharge based on modified Rankin Scale (mRS) was also assessed. Results: 10 out of 165 (6.0%) patients including 8 men and 4 women were finally diagnosed with SM. The median age and NIHSS score at presentation were 60 years and 7, respectively. Final diagnoses were seizure (n = 6), hemiplegic migraine (n = 2), conversion (n = 1), and alcohol intoxication (n = 1). All patients were discharged with a mRS score of 0 and 1 without experiencing any thrombolytic adverse effects. Conclusion: None of the patients with SM experienced any adverse effect of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) including hemorrhage and all of them reached good mRS score. This shows that tPA is generally safe and the risk of treating patients with SM is very low and making a vital treatment decision may outweigh the risk of neglected cases in a time-sensitive setting.


2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mu-Chien Sun ◽  
Tien-Bao Lai

Intravenous tissue plasminogen activator thrombolysis for stroke is still under use. A substantial proportion of excluded patients for mild or improving symptoms are dependent at discharge. We prospectively recruited 49 patients who did not receive thrombolysis because of mild or improving symptoms. 32 had favorable outcome (mRS ≤ 2) and 17 had unfavorable outcome (mRS > 2) at discharge. Comparisons were made between the two groups. Age was older (72.5 ± 10.0 versus 64.7 ± 13.2 years, P = 0.037), and initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score (5.7 ± 4.0 versus 2.2 ± 2.1, P < 0.001) was higher in the unfavorable group. Diastolic blood pressure was higher in the favorable group (98 ± 15 versus 86 ± 18  mmHg; P = 0.018). Atrial fibrillation (3.1 versus 23.5%; P = 0.043) and ipsilateral artery stenosis (21.9 versus 58.8%; P = 0.012) were more frequently found in the unfavorable group. Percentage of patients excluded from thrombolysis due to improving symptoms was higher in the unfavorable group (40.6 versus 82.4%; P = 0.005). Initial NIHSS score, but not other factors, was identified by logistic regression analysis as a major independent predictor for unfavorable outcome (OR 1.44; 95%CI, 1.03–2.02).


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. e0251077
Author(s):  
Hung-Ming Wu ◽  
I-Hui Lee ◽  
Chao-Bao Luo ◽  
Chih-Ping Chung ◽  
Yung-Yang Lin

Background Clinical-diffusion mismatch between stroke severity and diffusion-weighted imaging lesion volume seems to identify stroke patients with penumbra. However, urgent magnetic resonance imaging is sometimes inaccessible or contraindicated. Thus, we hypothesized that using brain computed tomography (CT) to determine a baseline “clinical-CT mismatch” may also predict the responses to thrombolytic therapy. Methods Brain CT lesions were measured using the Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS). A total of 104 patients were included: 79 patients with a baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score ≥ 8 and a CT-ASPECTS ≥ 9 who were defined as clinical-CT mismatch-positive (P group) and 25 patients with an NIHSS score ≥ 8 and a CT-ASPECTS < 9 who were defined as clinical-CT mismatch-negative (the N group). We compared their clinical outcomes, including early neurological improvement (ENI), early neurological deterioration (END), delta NIHSS score (admission NIHSS—baseline NIHSS score), symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH), mortality, and favorable outcome at 3 months. Results Patients in the P group had a greater proportion of favorable outcome at 3 months (p = 0.032) and more frequent ENI (p = 0.038) and a greater delta NIHSS score (p = 0.001), as well as a lower proportion of END (p = 0.004) than those in the N group patients. There were no significant differences in the incidence rates of sICH and mortality between the two groups. Conclusions Clinical-CT mismatch may be able to predict which patients would benefit from intravenous thrombolysis.


Stroke ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Blanca Talavera ◽  
Beatriz Gómez-Vicente ◽  
Mario Martínez-Galdámez ◽  
Elena López-Cancio ◽  
Carmen García-Cabo ◽  
...  

Background and Purpose: We aimed to determine the prevalence and predictors of delayed neurological improvement (DNI) after complete endovascular reperfusion in anterior circulation acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Methods: Retrospective analysis of an online multicenter prospective reperfusion registry of patients with consecutive anterior circulation AIS treated with endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) from January 2018 to June 2019 in tertiary stroke centers of the NORDICTUS (NORD-Spain Network for Research and Innovation in ICTUS) network. We included patients with AIS with a proximal occlusion in whom a modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction 3 reperfusion pattern was obtained. DNI was defined if, despite absence of early neurological improvement during the first 24 hours, patients achieved functional independence on day 90. Clinical and radiological variables obtained before EVT were analyzed as potential predictors of DNI. Results: Of 1565 patients with consecutive AIS treated with EVT, 1381 had proximal anterior circulation occlusions, 803 (58%) of whom achieved a modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction 3. Of these, 628 patients fulfilled all selection criteria and were included in the study. Mean age was 73.8 years, 323 (51.4%) were female, and median baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale was 16. Absence of early neurological improvement was observed in 142 (22.6%) patients; 32 of these (22.5%) achieved good long-term outcome and constitute the DNI group. Predictors of DNI in multivariable-adjusted logistic regression were male sex (odds ratio, 6.4 [95% CI, 2.1–22.3] P =0.002), lower pre-EVT National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (odds ratio, 1.4 [95% CI, 1.2–1.5], P <0.001), and intravenous thrombolysis (odds ratio, 9.1 [95% CI, 2.7–30.90], P <0.001). Conclusions: One-quarter of patients with anterior circulation AIS who do not clinically improve within the first 24 hours after complete cerebral endovascular recanalization will achieve long-term functional independence, regardless of the poor early clinical course. Male sex, lower initial clinical severity, and use of intravenous thrombolysis before EVT predicted this clinical pattern.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Liu ◽  
Jiaqi Huang ◽  
Huimin Xu ◽  
Haibin Dai

Abstract Background To investigate the factors associated with early neurological improvement of intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) treatment to acute ischemic stroke (AIS) within 4.5 hours of onset. Methods Demographics onset to treatment time, risk factors, and clinical and laboratory data of 209 AIS patients undergoing intravenous rt-PA therapy at the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine between January 2013 and August 2016 were retrospectively analyzed. The National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was recorded before thrombolytic therapy, 24 h after the treatment and 7 d after the treatment to evaluate the recovery of neurological function. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the outcomes. Results Of the 209 AIS patients treated by intravenous thrombolysis with rt-PA. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in patients with early neurological improvement. The multivariable analysis showed that non-atrial fibrillation (AF) was independently associated with early neurological improvement at 24 h and 7 d after thrombolysis. Onset to treatment time was an independent predictor (P < 0.05) for early neurological improvement at 7 d after thrombolysis. The NIHSS score and diastolic blood pressure on admission were associated with symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhagic (sICH) transformation. Conclusions Non-AF was independently associated with early neurological improvement after intravenous thrombolysis in AIS patients, but non-AF was not associated with the occurrence of sICH. Onset to treatment time was an independent predictor of early neurological improvement at 7 d after thrombolysis in AIS patients.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 400 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giovanni Merlino ◽  
Elisa Corazza ◽  
Simone Lorenzut ◽  
Gian Gigli ◽  
Daniela Cargnelutti ◽  
...  

Little is known about intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients with pre-existing disability. Disabled patients are often excluded from IVT treatment. Previous studies investigated the role of pre-existing disability on outcomes in AIS patients after IVT. However, no studies have been conducted to date to determine whether IVT may improve clinical outcomes in AIS patients with pre-existing disability. The aim of our study was to evaluate efficacy and safety of IVT in patients with pre-existing moderate and moderately severe disability (pre-stroke modified Rankin Scale score = 3 or 4) affected by AIS. This study was based on a retrospective analysis of a prospectively collected database of consecutive patients admitted to the Udine University Hospital with AIS from January 2015 to May 2018. The efficacy endpoints were the rate of favorable outcome and rate of major neurological improvement. The safety endpoints were the rate of mortality at three months, presence of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH), and presence of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH). The study population included 110 AIS patients with pre-existing moderate and moderately severe disability, 36 of which received (IVT+) and 74 did not receive IVT (IVT−). AIS disabled patients treated with IVT had higher rates of favorable outcome (66.7% vs. 36.5%, p = 0.003) and major neurological improvement (39.4% vs. 17.4%, p = 0.01) compared to non-treated ones. Two in three disabled patients returned to their pre-stroke functional status when treated with IVT. Prevalence of three-month mortality, ICH, and sICH did not differ in the two groups. Disabled patients affected by AIS significantly improved after IVT. Moderate and moderately severe disability alone should not be considered, per se, as a contraindication to IVT treatment.


2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Zhao ◽  
Hongmei Zhao ◽  
Runtao Li ◽  
Jiangtao Li ◽  
Chang Liu ◽  
...  

ObjectiveIntravenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is the standard therapy for patients with acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) within 4.5 hours of onset. Recent trials have expanded the endovascular treatment window to 24 hours. We investigated the efficacy and safety of using multimodal MRI to guide intravenous tPA treatment for patients with AIS of unknown time of onset (UTO).MethodsData on patients with AIS with UTO and within 4.5 hours of onset were reviewed. Data elements collected and analysed included: demographics, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score at baseline and 2 hours, 24 hours, 7 days after thrombolysis and before discharge, the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at 3 months after discharge, imaging findings and any adverse event.ResultsForty-two patients with UTO and 62 in control group treated within 4.5 hours of onset were treated with intravenous tPA. The NIHSS scores after thrombolysis and/or before discharge in UTO group were significantly improved compared with the baseline (p<0.05). Between the two groups, no significant differences in NIHSS score were observed (p>0.05). Utilising the non-inferiority test, to compare mRS scores (0–2) at 3 months between the two groups, the difference was 5.2% (92% CI, OR 0.196). Patients in the UTO group had mRS scores of 0-2, which were non-inferior to the control group. Their incidence of adverse events was similar.ConclusionsUtilising multimodal MRI to guide intravenous only thrombolysis for patients with AIS with UTO was safe and effective. In those patients with AIS between 6 and 24 hours of time of onset but without large arterial occlusion, intravenous thrombolysis could be considered an option.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chang Geng ◽  
Sheng‐De Li ◽  
Ding‐Ding Zhang ◽  
Lin Ma ◽  
Guo‐Wei Liu ◽  
...  

Background It was uncertain if direct endovascular thrombectomy (ET) was superior to bridging thrombolysis (BT) for patients with acute ischemic stroke caused by large‐vessel occlusions. We aimed to examine real‐world clinical outcomes of ET using nationwide registry data in China and to compare the efficacy and safety between BT and direct ET. Methods and Results Patients treated with ET from a nationwide registry study in China were included. Rapid neurological improvement, intracranial hemorrhage, and in‐hospital mortality were compared between the 2 groups using multivariate logistic models and propensity‐score matching analyses. A total of 7674 patients from 592 stroke centers were included. The median onset‐to‐puncture time, onset‐to‐door time, and door to puncture time were 290, 170, and 99 minutes, respectively. A total of 2069 (27.0%) patients received BT treatment. Patients in the BT group had a significantly shorter onset‐to‐puncture time (235 versus 323 minutes; P <0.001) and onset‐to‐door time (90 versus 222 minutes; P <0.001) compared with the direct ET group. The prior use of intravenous thrombolysis was associated with a higher rate of rapid neurological improvement (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.83; 95% CI, 0.71–0.96) and higher risk of intracranial hemorrhage (adjusted OR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.18–1.80) in multivariate analyses and propensity‐score matching analyses. Conclusions This study reflects the current application of ET in China. More patients received direct ET than BT. Our results suggested that favorable short‐term outcomes could be achieved with BT compared with direct ET. Higher risk of intracranial hemorrhage was observed in the BT group.


2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 1804-1810
Author(s):  
Bai Qingke ◽  
Zheng Ping ◽  
Zhang Jianying ◽  
Zhao Zhenguo

IntroductionThe aim of the study was to explore the clinical efficacy and safety of intravenous thrombolysis and bridging artery thrombectomy for hyperacute ischemic stroke with unknown onset time.Material and methodsOne hundred and twenty-eight patients with hyperacute cerebral infarction and without a clear time of onset were randomly divided into intravenous thrombolysis (n = 66) and bridging artery thrombectomy groups (n = 62).ResultsIn the intravenous thrombolysis group, 37 patients’ vessels had recanalization, 32 patients’ 24-hour National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score improved, and 42 patients’ 90-day modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score was good. In the bridging artery thrombectomy group, 62 patients’ vessels had recanalization, 28 patients’ 24-hour NIHSS score improved, and 38 patients’ 90-day mRS score was good.ConclusionsThe benefits and adverse events between intravenous thrombolysis and bridging artery thrombectomy for ischemic stroke with unknown time of onset are similar.


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