scholarly journals Comparison of Carotid Atherosclerotic Plaque Characteristics between Symptomatic Patients with Transient Ischemic Attack and Stroke using High-Resolution Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Author(s):  
Mingming Lu ◽  
Lichen Zhang ◽  
Fei Yuan ◽  
Peng Peng ◽  
Hongtao Zhang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background:This study aimed to compare the characteristics of carotid plaques between patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA) and ischemic stroke using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.Methods:Patients with a recent ischemic stroke or TIA who exhibited atherosclerotic plaques of carotid arteries in the symptomatic sides determined by MR vessel wall imaging were recruited. The plaque morphology and compositions including intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH), lipid-rich necrotic-core (LRNC) and calcification were compared between TIA and stroke patients. Logistic regression was performed to relate the plaque characteristics to the types of ischemic events.Results:A total of 270 patients with TIA or ischemic stroke were recruited. Stroke patients had significantly higher prevalence of diabetes (42.2% vs. 28.2%, p=0.021), greater mean wall area (35.1 ± 10.1 mm2 vs. 32.0 ± 7.7 mm2, p = 0.004), mean wall thickness (1.3 ± 0.2 mm vs. 1.2 ± 0.2 mm, p=0.001), maximum normalized wall index (NWI)(63.9% ± 6.0% vs. 62.2% ± 5.9%, p=0.023) and %volume of LRNC (9.7%± 8.2% vs. 7.4% ±7.9%, p=0.025) in carotid arteries compared to those with TIA. After adjusted for clinical factors, above characteristics of carotid arteries were significantly associated with the type of ischemic events. After further adjusted for maximum NWI, this association remained statistically significant (OR, 1.41; CI, 1.01-1.96; p=0.041).Conclusions:Ischemic stroke patients had larger plaque burden and greater proportion of LRNC in carotid plaques compared to those with TIA. This study suggests that ischemic stroke patients had more vulnerable plaques compared to those with TIA.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mingming Lu ◽  
Lichen Zhang ◽  
Fei Yuan ◽  
Peng Peng ◽  
Hongtao Zhang ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose:This study aimed to compare the characteristics of carotid plaques between patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA) and ischemic stroke using magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.Methods:Symptomatic patients with carotid atherosclerotic plaque who had a recent ischemic stroke or TIA were recruited and underwent carotid MR imaging. The characteristics of plaque morphology and compositions including intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH), lipid-rich necrotic-core (LRNC) and calcification were compared between TIA and stroke patients. Logistic regression was performed to relate the plaque characteristics to the types of ischemic events.Results:A total of 270 patients with TIA or ischemic stroke were recruited. Stroke patients had significantly higher prevalence of diabetes (42.2% vs. 28.2%, p=0.021), greater mean wall area (35.1 ± 10.1 mm2 vs. 32.0 ± 7.7mm2, p = 0.004), mean wall thickness (1.3 ± 0.2 mm vs. 1.2 ± 0.2 mm, p=0.001), maximum normalized wall index (NWI)(63.9% ± 6.0% vs. 62.2% ± 5.9%, p=0.023)and %volume of LRNC(9.7%± 8.2% vs. 7.4% ±7.9%, p=0.025)in carotid arteries compared to those with TIA. After adjusted for clinical factors, above characteristics of carotid arteries were significantly associated with the type of ischemic events. After further adjusting for maximum NWI, the association of %volume of LRNC and stroke subtype remained statistically significant (OR, 1.41; CI, 1.01-1.96; p=0.041).Conclusions:Ischemic stroke patients had larger plaque burden and greater proportion of LRNC in symptomatic carotid plaques compared to patients with TIA. This study suggests that ischemic stroke patients had more vulnerable plaques compared to those with TIA.


2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 76-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shawna Cutting ◽  
Elizabeth Regan ◽  
Vivien H. Lee ◽  
Shyam Prabhakaran

Background and Purpose: Following transient ischemic attack (TIA), there is increased risk for ischemic stroke. The American Heart Association recommends admission of patients with ABCD2 scores ≥3 for observation, rapid performance of diagnostic tests, and potential acute intervention. We aimed to determine if there is a relationship between ABCD2 scores, in-hospital ischemic events, and in-hospital treatments after TIA admission. Methods: We reviewed consecutive patients admitted between 2006 and 2011 following a TIA, defined as transient focal neurological symptoms attributed to a specific vascular distribution and lasting <24 h. Three interventions were prespecified: anticoagulation for atrial fibrillation, carotid or intracranial revascularization, and intravenous or intra-arterial reperfusion therapies. We compared rates of in-hospital recurrent TIA or ischemic stroke and the receipt of interventions among patients with low (<3) versus high (≥3) ABCD2 scores. Results: Of 249 patients, 11 patients (4.4%) had recurrent TIAs or strokes during their stay (8 TIAs, 3 strokes). All 11 had ABCD2 scores ≥3, and no neurological events occurred in patients with lower scores (5.1 vs. 0%; p = 0.37). Twelve patients (4.8%) underwent revascularization for large artery stenosis, 16 (6.4%) were started on anticoagulants, and no patient received intravenous or intra-arterial reperfusion therapy. The ABCD2 score was not associated with anticoagulation (p = 0.59) or revascularization (p = 0.20). Conclusions: Higher ABCD2 scores may predict early ischemic events after TIA but do not predict the need for intervention. Outpatient evaluation for those with scores <3 would potentially have delayed revascularization or anticoagulant treatment in nearly one-fifth of ‘low-risk' patients.


2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 910-914 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kuan H Ng ◽  
Mukul Sharma ◽  
Oscar Benavente ◽  
Laura Gioia ◽  
Thalia S Field ◽  
...  

Rationale Patients with transient ischemic attack or minor stroke are at high risk of early recurrent cerebrovascular events. Anticoagulation with heparin or warfarin acutely after ischemic stroke is at least as efficacious as aspirin for preventing recurrent events but is associated with an increased risk of clinical worsening due to hemorrhagic transformation. Aim and hypothesis We aim to demonstrate the safety of early anticoagulation with dabigatran, an oral direct thrombin inhibitor, in acute cerebrovascular syndrome patients. The primary hypothesis is that symptomatic hemorrhagic transformation rates in dabigatran and aspirin-treated patients will be similar. Sample size estimates At least 136 participants in two groups required to demonstrate an absolute between-group difference in the rate of hemorrhagic transformation of 5.6% with 80% power, assuming alpha = 5%. Methods and design A randomized, multicenter open-label clinical trial (NCT02295826). Three-hundred participants with a transient ischemic attack/ischemic stroke (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale ≤ 9) will undergo magnetic resonance imaging within 72 h of symptom onset and will be randomized to aspirin 81 mg daily or dabigatran 150 mg twice daily for 30 days. Participants undergo repeat magnetic resonance imaging at 30 days and clinical assessment to 90 days. Study outcomes The primary outcome is the symptomatic hemorrhagic transformation rate. Secondary outcomes include recurrent stroke and new ischemic lesions on repeat magnetic resonance imaging. Discussion This study will determine the safety of early anticoagulation with dabigatran in patients with acute transient ischemic attack/ischemic stroke and will inform the design of a phase III randomized trial aimed at demonstrating reduced recurrent early ischemic events after acute transient ischemic attack/stroke.


2022 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mathieu Kruska ◽  
Anna Kolb ◽  
Christian Fastner ◽  
Iris Mildenberger ◽  
Svetlana Hetjens ◽  
...  

Background: There is little information concerning the invasive coronary angiography (ICA) findings of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) or transient ischemic attack (TIA) with elevated troponin levels and suspected myocardial infarction (MI). This study analyzed patient characteristics associated with ICA outcomes.Methods: A total of 8,322 patients with AIS or TIA, treated between March 2010 and May 2020, were retrospectively screened for elevated serum troponin I at hospital admission. Patients in whom ICA was performed, due to suspected type 1 MI based on symptoms, echocardiography, and ECG, were categorized according to ICA results (non-obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD): ≥1 stenosis ≥50% but no stenosis ≥80%; obstructive CAD: any stenosis ≥80% or hemodynamically relevant stenosis assessed by FFR/iwFR).Results: Elevated troponin levels were detected in 2,205 (22.5%) patients, of whom 123 (5.6%) underwent ICA (mean age 71 ± 12 years; 67% male). CAD was present in 98 (80%) patients, of whom 51 (41%) were diagnosed with obstructive CAD. Thus, ICA findings of obstructive CAD accounted for 2.3% of patients with troponin elevation and 0.6% of all stroke patients. The clinical hallmarks of myocardial ischemia, including angina pectoris (31 vs. 15%, p &lt; 0.05) and regional wall motion abnormalities (49 vs. 32%, p = 0.07), and increased cardiovascular risk indicated obstructive CAD. While there was no association between lesion site or stroke severity and ICA findings, causal large-artery atherosclerosis was significantly more common in patients with obstructive coronary disease (p &lt; 0.05).Conclusion: The rate of obstructive CAD in patients with stroke or TIA and elevated troponin levels with suspected concomitant type I MI is low. The cumulation of several cardiovascular risk factors and clinical signs of MI were predictive. AIS patients with large-artery atherosclerosis and elevated troponin may represent an especially vulnerable subgroup of stroke patients with risk for obstructive CAD.


Circulation ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 140 (8) ◽  
pp. 658-664 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Claiborne Johnston ◽  
Jordan J. Elm ◽  
J. Donald Easton ◽  
Mary Farrant ◽  
William G. Barsan ◽  
...  

Background: In patients with acute minor ischemic stroke or high-risk transient ischemic attack enrolled in the POINT trial (Platelet-Oriented Inhibition in New TIA and Minor Ischemic Stroke [POINT] Trial), the combination of clopidogrel and aspirin for 90 days reduced major ischemic events but increased major hemorrhage in comparison to aspirin alone. Methods: In a secondary analysis of POINT (N=4881), we assessed the time course for benefit and risk from the combination of clopidogrel and aspirin. The primary efficacy outcome was a composite of ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, or ischemic vascular death. The primary safety outcome was major hemorrhage. Risks and benefits were estimated for delayed times of treatment initiation using left-truncated models. Results: Through 90 days, the rate of major ischemic events was initially high then decreased markedly, whereas the rate of major hemorrhage remained low but relatively constant throughout. With the use of a model-based approach, the optimal change point for major ischemic events was 21 days (0–21 days hazard ratio 0.65 for clopidogrel-aspirin versus aspirin; 95% CI, 0.50–0.85; P =0.0015, in comparison to 22–90 days hazard ratio, 1.38; 95% CI, 0.81–2.35; P =0.24). Models showed benefits of clopidogrel-aspirin for treatment delayed as long as 3 days after symptom onset. Conclusions: The benefit of clopidogrel-aspirin occurs predominantly within the first 21 days, and outweighs the low, but ongoing risk of major hemorrhage. When considered with the results of the CHANCE trial (Clopidogrel in High-Risk Patients With Non-disabling Cerebrovascular Events), a similar trial treating with clopidogrel-aspirin for 21 days and showing no increase in major hemorrhage, these results suggest that limiting clopidogrel-aspirin use to 21 days may maximize benefit and reduce risk after high-risk transient ischemic attack or minor ischemic stroke. Clinical Trial Registration: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov . Unique identifier: NCT00991029.


Stroke ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 42 (12) ◽  
pp. 3612-3613 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael T. Mullen ◽  
Brett L. Cucchiara

Background and Purpose— The recent redefinition of transient ischemic attack (TIA) reclassifies patients with acute infarction on magnetic resonance imaging as ischemic stroke. Redefinition will improve the prognosis of both TIA and ischemic stroke, an epidemiological paradox known as the Will Rogers phenomenon. We sought to quantify the impact of this phenomenon. Methods— Incidence of TIA, risk of death/disability after stroke, rate of acute infarction on magnetic resonance imaging after TIA, and 90-day stroke risk after TIA with and without infarction on magnetic resonance imaging were determined based on published data. The impact on poststroke disability in the redefined cohort of patients with ischemic stroke was computed. A sensitivity analysis was performed to account for uncertainty in input variables. Results— Using the new TIA definition, the 90-day risk of stroke following TIA is 1%. In the United States, redefinition will increase annual ischemic stroke incidence from 691 650 to 747 755 and result in a 3.4% absolute reduction in poststroke disability. In a sensitivity analysis, this risk reduction varies from 1.5 to 6.5%, and is most dependent on the incidence of TIA. Conclusions— Redefinition of TIA reduces stroke risk after TIA to approximately 1% at 90 days, and reduces the rate of poststroke disability by approximately 3.4%.


2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (4) ◽  
pp. 1495-1505 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akseli Leino ◽  
Susanna Westeren-Punnonen ◽  
Juha Töyräs ◽  
Sami Myllymaa ◽  
Timo Leppänen ◽  
...  

Abstract Purpose Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with increased risk for stroke, which is known to further impair respiratory functions. However, it is unknown whether the type and severity of respiratory events are linked to stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA). Thus, we investigate whether the characteristics of individual respiratory events differ between patients experiencing TIA or acute ischemic stroke and matched patients with clinically suspected sleep-disordered breathing. Methods Polygraphic data of 77 in-patients with acute ischemic stroke (n = 49) or TIA (n = 28) were compared to age, gender, and BMI-matched patients with suspected sleep-disordered breathing and no cerebrovascular disease. Along with conventional diagnostic parameters (e.g., apnea-hypopnea index), durations and severities of individual apneas, hypopneas and desaturations were compared between the groups separately for ischemic stroke and TIA patients. Results Stroke and TIA patients had significantly shorter apneas and hypopneas (p < 0.001) compared to matched reference patients. Furthermore, stroke patients had more central apnea events (p = 0.007) and a trend for higher apnea/hypopnea number ratios (p = 0.091). The prevalence of OSA (apnea-hypopnea index ≥ 5) was 90% in acute stroke patients and 79% in transient ischemic attack patients. Conclusion Stroke patients had different characteristics of respiratory events, i.e., their polygraphic phenotype of OSA differs compared to matched reference patients. The observed differences in polygraphic features might indicate that stroke and TIA patients suffer from OSA phenotype recently associated with increased cardiovascular mortality. Therefore, optimal diagnostics and treatment require routine OSA screening in patients with acute cerebrovascular disease, even without previous suspicion of OSA.


2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (6) ◽  
pp. 619-624
Author(s):  
Keisuke Tokunaga ◽  
Masatoshi Koga ◽  
Sohei Yoshimura ◽  
Yasushi Okada ◽  
Hiroshi Yamagami ◽  
...  

<b><i>Background:</i></b> The present study aimed to clarify the association between left atrial (LA) size and ischemic events after ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Acute ischemic stroke or TIA patients with NVAF were enrolled. LA size was classified into normal LA size, mild LA enlargement (LAE), moderate LAE, and severe LAE. The ischemic event was defined as ischemic stroke, TIA, carotid endarterectomy, carotid artery stenting, acute coronary syndrome or percutaneous coronary intervention, systemic embolism, aortic aneurysm rupture or dissection, peripheral artery disease requiring hospitalization, or venous thromboembolism. <b><i>Results:</i></b> A total of 1,043 patients (mean age, 78 years; 450 women) including 1,002 ischemic stroke and 41 TIA were analyzed. Of these, 351 patients (34%) had normal LA size, 298 (29%) had mild LAE, 198 (19%) had moderate LAE, and the remaining 196 (19%) had severe LAE. The median follow-up duration was 2.0 years (interquartile range, 0.9–2.1). During follow-up, 117 patients (11%) developed at least one ischemic event. The incidence rate of total ischemic events increased with increasing LA size. Severe LAE was independently associated with increased risk of ischemic events compared with normal LA size (multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio, 1.75; 95% confidence interval, 1.02–3.00). <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Severe LAE was associated with increased risk of ischemic events after ischemic stroke or TIA in patients with NVAF.


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