scholarly journals EXPRESS: ESO guideline for the management of extracranial and intracranial artery dissection

2021 ◽  
pp. 239698732110464
Author(s):  
Stephanie Debette ◽  
Michael mazighi ◽  
Philippe Bijlenga ◽  
Alessandro Pezzini ◽  
Masatoshi Koga ◽  
...  

The aim of the present European Stroke Organisation guideline is to provide clinically useful evidence-based recommendations on the management of extracranial artery dissection (EAD) and intracranial artery dissection (IAD). EAD and IAD represent leading causes of stroke in the young, but are uncommon in the general population, thus making it challenging to conduct clinical trials and large observational studies. The guidelines were prepared following the Standard Operational Procedure for European Stroke Organisation guidelines and according to GRADE methodology. Our four recommendations result from a thorough analysis of the literature comprising two randomized clinical trials (RCTs) comparing anticoagulants to anti-platelets in the acute phase of ischemic stroke and twenty-six comparative observational studies. In EAD patients with acute ischemic stroke we recommend using intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) with alteplase within 4.5 hours of onset if standard inclusion/exclusion criteria are met, and mechanical thrombectomy in patients with large vessel occlusion of the anterior circulation. We further recommend early endovascular or surgical intervention for IAD patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Based on evidence from two phase 2 RCTs that have shown no difference between the benefits and risks of anticoagulants versus anti-platelets in the acute phase of symptomatic EAD, we strongly recommend that clinicians can prescribe either option. In post-acute EAD patients with residual stenosis or dissecting aneurysms and in symptomatic IAD patients with an intracranial dissecting aneurysm and isolated headache, there is insufficient data to provide a recommendation on the benefits and risks of endovascular/surgical treatment. Finally, nine expert consensus statements, adopted by 8 to 11 of the 11 experts involved, propose guidance for clinicians when the quality of evidence was too low to provide recommendations. Some of these pertain to the management of IAD (use of IVT, endovascular treatment, and antiplatelets versus anticoagulation in IAD with ischemic stroke and use of endovascular or surgical interventions for IAD with headache only). Other expert consensus statements address the use of direct anticoagulants and dual antiplatelet therapy in EAD-related cerebral ischemia, endovascular treatment of the EAD/IAD lesion and multidisciplinary assessment of the best therapeutic approaches in specific situations.

Stroke ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maki Takahashi ◽  
Takeo Sato ◽  
Takahiro Maku ◽  
Haruhiko Motegi ◽  
Hiroki Takatsu ◽  
...  

Background and Purpose: Hyperintense vessel sign on FLAIR (HVS) has been described in hyperacute stroke patients with arterial occlusion. It’s a surrogate marker for stroke severity in patients with acute ischemic stroke of the anterior circulation. We aimed to reveal the clinical significance of HVS in patients with acute posterior circulation infarction. Methods: This observational study is based on a single-center prospective registry study. Inclusion criteria were: symptomatic ischemic stroke patients who have lesions only in posterior circulation; and taken initial MRI within 14 days from onset.An unfavorable outcome was defined as mRS score of 2 to 6 at 3 months from the onset. First investigation is to estimate whether HVS could be related to the subtype of acute ischemic stroke (cohort A). Second, the correlation between HVS and mRS at 3 months was evaluated (cohort B). Results: From October 2012 to May 2019, consecutive 1,079 ischemic stroke subjects were screened, including 277 in cohort A (191 male, median age 64 years) and 240 in cohort B (165 male, median age 66 years, Figure A). In cohort A, HVS was independently associated with intracranial artery dissection (OR 5.228; 95% CI 2.270-12.039; p = 0.001) and large-artery atherosclerosis (OR 3.582; 95% CI 1.244-10.317; p = 0.018, Figure B). In cohort B, HVS was not a factor independently associated with unfavorable outcome (OR 2.925; 95% CI 0.881-9.714; p = 0.080). Conclusions: HVS in patients with posterior circulation infarct suggests intracranial artery dissection or large-artery atherosclerosis, but does not have impact on their clinical courses.


2021 ◽  
pp. annrheumdis-2021-220884
Author(s):  
Kulveer Mankia ◽  
Heidi J Siddle ◽  
Andreas Kerschbaumer ◽  
Deshire Alpizar Rodriguez ◽  
Anca Irinel Catrina ◽  
...  

BackgroundDespite growing interest, there is no guidance or consensus on how to conduct clinical trials and observational studies in populations at risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).MethodsAn European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) task force formulated four research questions to be addressed by systematic literature review (SLR). The SLR results informed consensus statements. One overarching principle, 10 points to consider (PTC) and a research agenda were proposed. Task force members rated their level of agreement (1–10) for each PTC.ResultsEpidemiological and demographic characteristics should be measured in all clinical trials and studies in at-risk individuals. Different at-risk populations, identified according to clinical presentation, were defined: asymptomatic, musculoskeletal symptoms without arthritis and early clinical arthritis. Study end-points should include the development of subclinical inflammation on imaging, clinical arthritis, RA and subsequent achievement of arthritis remission. Risk factors should be assessed at baseline and re-evaluated where appropriate; they include genetic markers and autoantibody profiling and additionally clinical symptoms and subclinical inflammation on imaging in those with symptoms and/or clinical arthritis. Trials should address the effect of the intervention on risk factors, as well as progression to clinical arthritis or RA. In patients with early clinical arthritis, pharmacological intervention has the potential to prevent RA development. Participants’ knowledge of their RA risk may inform their decision to participate; information should be provided using an individually tailored approach.ConclusionThese consensus statements provide data-driven guidance for rheumatologists, health professionals and investigators conducting clinical trials and observational studies in individuals at risk of RA.


Stroke ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yukako Takahashi ◽  
Naoya Oishi ◽  
Tatsuya Mima ◽  
Hidenao Fukuyama ◽  
Ryosuke Takahashi ◽  
...  

Introduction: The failure of numerous stroke clinical trials partially lies in the difficulty in predicting motor recovery in the acute phase. Because of the interindividual variability in subsequent recovery, better prediction of motor prognosis and earlier patient stratification are required to design a promising protocol for clinical trials. Recently, an algorithm to predict motor recovery at 2 weeks after stroke has been reported by combining diffusion-weighted MRI and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS); however, 2 weeks may be too late for therapeutic intervention. The aim of this study was therefore to explore how to predict motor recovery even earlier at 1 week after ischemic stroke. Subjects and Methods: Twenty-five patients with acute ischemic stroke (67.9±10.5 years old) who showed supratentorial lesions and hemiparesis of the upper extremity were prospectively enrolled. Integrity of the corticospinal tract was assessed structurally with MRI and functionally with TMS within 7 days after onset (acute phase), at 10-20 days (subacute), and at 6 months (chronic). The fractional anisotropy (FA) asymmetry index (FAcontra-FAipsi)/(FAcontra+FAipsi) at the level of the cerebral peduncle was calculated on MRI, while motor evoked potential (MEP) was recorded on TMS. The Fugl-Meyer scale was used to evaluate upper limb impairment in the subacute and chronic phase. Results: Patients with detectable MEP at 1 week after onset showed significantly higher Fugl-Meyer score at 6 months compared to those without MEP (65.4 versus 33.6, p=0.011). Those with FA asymmetry index of less than 0.024 at 1 week showed significantly higher Fugl-Meyer score at 6 months compared to those with the index above 0.024 (64.2 versus 40.1, p=0.037). Conclusion: Presence of MEP and smaller asymmetry of FA at 1 week after ischemic stroke could be a useful biomarker for predicting better motor recovery. This finding can be useful in earlier patient stratification in future clinical trials.


Author(s):  
Yukishige Hashimoto ◽  
Toshinori Matsushige ◽  
Koji Shimonaga ◽  
Hiroki Takahashi ◽  
Tatsuya Mizoue ◽  
...  

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