International journal of stroke : official journal of the International Stroke Society
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Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Comparison between angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers on the risk of stroke recurrence and longitudinal progression of white matter lesions and silent brain infarcts on MRI (CEREBRAL study): rationale, design, and methodology.
Patients with a history of ischemic stroke are known to develop new ischemic stroke. While asymptomatic, the presence and progression of silent brain infarcts and white matter lesions on magnetic resonance imaging are associated with an increased risk of future strokes. Both angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers are recommended for the primary and secondary prevention of stroke, but there are no direct comparisons of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors versus angiotensin II receptor blockers regarding their cerebroprotective effects, including their effect on asymptomatic cerebral lesions detected by magnetic resonance imaging. ⋯ Our study will clarify whether angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers are more effective for preventing primary and recurrence of ischemic stroke, including the progression of asymptomatic cerebral lesions on magnetic resonance imaging, in elderly hypertensive patients.
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Lower neighborhood-level socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with an increased risk of vascular disease in developed countries. ⋯ There were differences in vascular risk across rural villages in China, with higher lifetime stroke and CHD prevalence in higher-income villages. For CHD, neighborhood effects were stronger among younger residents of high-income villages. The results may have implications for public health interventions targeting populations at risk.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Comparative Study
Solitaire™ with the Intention for Thrombectomy as Primary Endovascular Treatment for Acute Ischemic Stroke (SWIFT PRIME) trial: protocol for a randomized, controlled, multicenter study comparing the Solitaire revascularization device with IV tPA with IV tPA alone in acute ischemic stroke.
Early reperfusion in patients experiencing acute ischemic stroke is critical, especially for patients with large vessel occlusion who have poor prognosis without revascularization. Solitaire™ stent retriever devices have been shown to immediately restore vascular perfusion safely, rapidly, and effectively in acute ischemic stroke patients with large vessel occlusions. ⋯ Statistical analysis will be conducted using simultaneous success criteria on the overall distribution of modified Rankin Scale (Rankin shift) and proportions of subjects achieving functional independence (mRS 0-2).
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There is uncertainty surrounding the influence of prior antiplatelet agent use on outcomes after intravenous thrombolysis with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator in acute ischemic stroke. ⋯ In acute ischemic stroke patients receiving intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator therapy, prior antiplatelet agent use did not lead to a significant difference in functional outcome, although it significantly increased the risk of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage. Recanalization rate was not different between two groups. In the subgroup analysis, prior clopidogrel mono therapy may not increase the risk of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, which will need further studies to confirm.
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In the first hours after stroke onset, subfebrile temperatures and fever have been associated with poor functional outcome. In the first Paracetamol (Acetaminophen) in Stroke trial, a randomized clinical trial of 1400 patients with acute stroke, patients who were treated with high-dose paracetamol showed more improvement on the modified Rankin Scale at three-months than patients treated with placebo, but this difference was not statistically significant. In the 661 patients with a baseline body temperature of 37.0 °C or above, treatment with paracetamol increased the odds of functional improvement (odds ratio 1.43; 95% confidence interval: 1.02-1.97). This relation was also found in the patients with a body temperature of 36.5 °C or higher (odds ratio 1.31; 95% confidence interval 1.01-1.68). These findings need confirmation. ⋯ If high-dose paracetamol will be proven effective, a simple, safe, and extremely cheap therapy will be available for many patients with acute stroke worldwide.