INCREASING FREQUENCY OF INTRAVENOUS THROMBOLYSIS UTILIZATION IN ACUTE ISCHEMIC STROKE OVER 18 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN AN ACADEMIC MEDICAL CENTER IN CHILE: THE RECCA REGISTRY

INTRODUCTION: Studies suggest 8%-28% of ischemic strokes present as wake-up strokes (WUS). The unknown time of symptom onset precludes these patients from approved treatments for acute ischemic stroke, but a substantial proportion of patients may be deemed candidates for treatment if other factors are considered. The aim of this study was to identify characteristics associated with clinical outcomes of WUS patients. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical record of patients with ischemic stroke admitted to a large academic medical center between January 2011 and May 2012. We identified patients with stroke symptoms upon awakening or those who were found with stroke symptoms with an unknown time of onset. Baseline demographics, stroke mechanism, presenting NIHSS, Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score (ASPECTS), and modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores on discharge and at 3-month follow-up were obtained. A good outcome was defined as mRS 0-2. RESULTS: WUS patients comprised 22% (162/731) of all patients with ischemic stroke at our institution during this time period. Median age was 74 years (range 15-100), median presenting NIHSS was 5 (range 0-28), and median initial ASPECTS 10 (range 0-10). A cardioembolic mechanism was identified in 68 patients (42%). Predictors of good outcome at hospital discharge were lower initial NIHSS (3.5 versus 12.0, p<0.0001) and higher ASPECTS (9.8 versus 8.1, p=0.0002). The predictors of good outcomes at 3 months were younger age (69.1 versus 75.8, p=0.009), lower initial NIHSS (5.0 versus 12.6, p<0.0001), and higher ASPECTS (9.5 versus 8.1, p=0.0006). One hundred and eleven patients (68.5%) had initial ASPECTS of 10. Of those, 19 had NIHSS≥10 and 7 were treated with acute recanalization therapies. Four of the 7 treated patients had good outcomes, and 2 of the 12 untreated patients had good outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Few patients with strokes of unknown onset and severe deficits have good outcomes without acute stroke treatment. Patients with NIHSS≥10 and ASPECTS 10 may be candidates for acute recanalization therapy.

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Factors Associated with Delay in Presentation to the Hospital for Young Adults with Ischemic Stroke

Cerebrovascular Diseases ◽

10.1159/000443242 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 42 (1-2) ◽

pp. 10-14 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Lester Y. Leung ◽

Louis R. Caplan

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Ischemic Stroke ◽

Time Window ◽

Medical Center ◽

Academic Medical Center ◽

Stroke Severity ◽

Delayed Presentation ◽

Stroke Subtype ◽

Academic Medical ◽

Presentation Methods

Objectives: Young adults with ischemic stroke may present late to medical care, but the reasons for these delays are unknown. We sought to identify factors that predict delay in presentation. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study of adults aged 18-50 admitted to a single academic medical center between 2007 and 2012. Results: Eighty six of 141 (61%) young adults with ischemic stroke presented at the health center more than 4.5 h after stroke onset. Diabetes was associated with delays in presentation (p = 0.033, relative risk (RR) 1.4 (95% CI 1.1-1.8)), whereas systemic cancer was associated with early presentations (p = 0.033, RR 0.26 (95% CI 0.044-1.6)). Individuals who were single were more likely to present late than those who were married or living with a partner (p = 0.0045, RR 1.7 (95% CI 1.3-2.2)). Individuals who were unemployed were more likely to present late than those who were employed or in school (p = 0.020, RR 1.4 (95% CI 1.1-1.8)). Age (dichotomized as 18-35 and 36-50), race, home medications, other medical conditions (including common stroke mimics in young adults), and stroke subtype were not determinants of delay in presentation, although there was a trend toward delayed presentations in women (p = 0.076) and with low stroke severity (dichotomized as National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) ≤5 and NIHSS >5, p = 0.061). Conclusions: A majority of young adults with ischemic stroke presented outside the time window for intravenous fibrinolysis. Diabetes, single status, and unemployed status were associated with delayed presentation.

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Abstract 3048: Real-World Clinical Use of CT Perfusion for Diagnosis and Prediction of Lesion Growth in Acute Ischemic Stroke

Stroke ◽

10.1161/str.43.suppl_1.a3048 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 43 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Branko N Huisa ◽

William P Neil ◽

Nhu T Bruce ◽

Marcel Maya ◽

Benedict Pereira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ischemic Stroke ◽

Acute Ischemic Stroke ◽

Real World ◽

Cerebral Blood Volume ◽

Ct Perfusion ◽

Medical Center ◽

Brain Mri ◽

Academic Medical Center ◽

Acute Ischemia ◽

Perfusion Maps

Background: Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) detects acute ischemia with a high sensitivity. In research centers, qualitative CT perfusion (CTP) mapping correlates well with DWI and may accurately differentiate the infarct core from ischemic penumbra. The value of the CTP in real-world clinical practice, however, has not been fully established. We investigated the yield of CTP - derived cerebral blood volume (CBV) and mean transient time (MTT) for the detection of cerebral ischemia in a sample of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients. Methods: In a large metropolitan academic medical center that is a certified Primary Stroke Center (PSC) we retrospectively studied 162 patients who presented between January 2008 and July 2010 with symptoms suggestive of AIS. All patients had an initial Code Brain protocol including non-contrast head CT, CTP, and CTA. As clinically indicated, some patients underwent follow up brain MRI within 48 hours. Acute perfusion maps were derived in real time by a trained operator. From the obtained images CBV, MTT and DWI lesion volumes were manually traced using planimetry (ImageJ v1.42) by two stroke neurologists blinded to clinical information. Volumes were calculated using the Cavaleri theorem. Sensitivity, specificity and statistical analysis were calculated using Graph Pad 5.0. Results: Of 162 patients with acute stroke-like symptoms, 73 had DWI lesions. The sensitivity and specificity to detect abnormal DWI signals were 23% and 100%, for CBV; and 43.8% and 98.9% for MTT. For DWI lesions ≥5ml the yield was 59.3% for CVB and 77.8% for MTT. For lesions ≥10ml the yield was 68.4% for CBV and 89.5% for MTT. In patients with NIHSS ≥5, CBV predicted abnormal DWI in 22.6% and MTT in 35.5%. In patients with NIHSS ≥10, CBV and MTT, both had a yield of 50.0%. A CBV - MTT mismatch of >25% predicted MRI lesion extension in 81.25% of the cases. There were small but significant correlations for DWI versus CBV lesion volumes ( r 2 0.32, P= 0.0001), and for DWI versus MTT lesion volumes ( r 2 0.29, P <0.0001). Correlation between DWI and perfusion maps for MCA territory infarcts were CBV ( r 2 0.3, P <0.0001) and MTT ( r 2 0.45, P <0.0001). Conclusions: In real-world deployment during a Code Brain protocol in a busy PSC, acute imaging with CTP did not predict DWI lesions on brain MRI with sufficient accuracy. In patients with large lesions the predictive value was better.

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High Plasma D-Dimer Indicates Unfavorable Outcome of Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients Receiving Intravenous Thrombolysis

Cerebrovascular Diseases ◽

10.1159/000445037 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 42 (1-2) ◽

pp. 117-121 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Po-Jen Hsu ◽

Chih-Hao Chen ◽

Shin-Joe Yeh ◽

Li-Kai Tsai ◽

Sung-Chun Tang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ischemic Stroke ◽

Acute Ischemic Stroke ◽

Medical Center ◽

Univariate Analysis ◽

Intravenous Thrombolysis ◽

Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator ◽

Unfavorable Outcome ◽

Stroke Onset ◽

Symptomatic Intracerebral Hemorrhage ◽

D Dimer

Background: D-dimer is a fibrin degradation product and a possible marker of thromboembolic events. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between D-dimer levels and outcome in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients receiving intravenous thrombolysis. Methods: This retrospective study included AIS patients who received intravenous thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) and provided plasma D-dimer level within 24 h after stroke onset during 2009 and 2014 at a single medical center. Unfavorable outcome was defined as modified Rankin scale ≥3 at 3 months after stroke. Symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) was defined as a deterioration of at least 4 points on the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale within 36 h post thrombolysis. Results: Of 347 patients receiving intravenous rt-PA, 159 (mean age 67.6 ± 13.1 year, 59.7% male) fulfilled the inclusion criteria. In univariate analysis, patients with unfavorable outcome (n = 79) had significantly higher levels of D-dimer than those with favorable outcome (median ln D-dimer = 1.4 vs. 0.7 μg/ml, p < 0.001). After adjustment for clinical variables, a higher level of D-dimer remained significantly associated with an unfavorable outcome (OR 1.90, 95% CI 1.27-2.86, p = 0.002) and the occurrence of symptomatic ICH (OR 2.97, 95% CI 1.15-7.70, p = 0.025). Conclusion: The D-dimer level within 24 h after stroke onset can be an early outcome indicator in AIS patients receiving rt-PA therapy.

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Identification of Rate-Limiting Steps in the Provision of Thrombolytics for Acute Ischemic Stroke

Journal of Pharmacy Practice ◽

10.1177/0897190016674408 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 30 (6) ◽

pp. 606-611 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Elise L. Metts ◽

Abby M. Bailey ◽

Kyle A. Weant ◽

Stephanie B. Justice

Keyword(s):

Ischemic Stroke ◽

Acute Ischemic Stroke ◽

Blood Sample ◽

Medical Center ◽

Academic Medical Center ◽

Retrospective Chart Review ◽

Heart Association ◽

Turnaround Time ◽

Ct Scanner ◽

Physician Consultation

Background: Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) is the only pharmacotherapy shown to improve outcomes in acute ischemic stroke. The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends a door-to-needle (DTN) time of <60 minutes in at least 50% of patients presenting with acute ischemic stroke. Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze the possible barriers that may delay tPA administration within the emergency department (ED) of an academic medical center. Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted from February 2011 to October 2013. Patients were included if they were admitted through the ED with a diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke and received tPA. Results: Of the 130 patients who met inclusion criteria, 43.1% received tPA in ≤60 minutes. Several factors were identified to be significantly different in those with a DTN time of >60 minutes—time to ED physician consultation, neurologist arrival, blood sample acquisition, and result time ( P < .05 for all comparisons). Correlation analysis demonstrated several independent variables associated with DTN time of ≤60 minutes—time from admission to ED physician consultation, receipt of computed tomography (CT) scan, blood sample acquisition, laboratory results, and neurology service arrival ( P < .05 for all comparisons). Conclusion: The findings from this study highlight the importance of prompt physician evaluation, direct transfer to the CT scanner, and a quick turnaround time on laboratory values. The development of protocols to ensure the rapid receipt of tPA therapy should focus on limiting any potential delay these steps may cause.

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