Stroke; a journal of cerebral circulation
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Review Meta Analysis
Antiplatelet therapy in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: a systematic review.
Observational studies suggest that platelet inhibitors reduce the risk of delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI) after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage and thereby have a beneficial effect on clinical outcome. Robust evidence, however, is lacking. We performed a systematic meta-analysis to determine whether antiplatelet therapy has a beneficial effect after SAH. ⋯ Our data indicate that antiplatelet drugs reduce the risk of DCI in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage. A randomized clinical trial is warranted to assess the effect on overall outcome.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical Trial
Randomized clinical trial of therapeutic exercise in subacute stroke.
Rehabilitation care after stroke is highly variable and increasingly shorter in duration. The effect of therapeutic exercise on impairments and functional limitations after stroke is not clear. The objective of this study was to determine whether a structured, progressive, physiologically based exercise program for subacute stroke produces gains greater than those attributable to spontaneous recovery and usual care. ⋯ This structured, progressive program of therapeutic exercise in persons who had completed acute rehabilitation services produced gains in endurance, balance, and mobility beyond those attributable to spontaneous recovery and usual care.
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Clinical Trial
Persistent poststroke hyperglycemia is independently associated with infarct expansion and worse clinical outcome.
Hyperglycemia at the time of ischemic stroke is associated with increased mortality and morbidity. Animal studies suggest that infarct expansion may be responsible. The influence of persisting hyperglycemia after stroke has not previously been examined. We measured the blood glucose profile after acute ischemic stroke and correlated it with infarct volume changes using T2- and diffusion-weighted MRI. ⋯ Persistent hyperglycemia on serial glucose monitoring is an independent determinant of infarct expansion and is associated with worse functional outcome. There is an urgent need to study normalization of blood glucose after stroke.
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Case Reports
Histopathological evaluation of middle cerebral artery after percutaneous intracranial transluminal angioplasty.
Intracranial atherosclerosis accounts for 8% to 10% of all ischemic strokes, and intracranial angioplasty is increasingly performed to treat stenotic lesions. We report an autopsy case and discuss the effects of intracranial angioplasty for atherosclerotic arteries. ⋯ Histopathological findings after intracranial angioplasty parallel those in other arterial territories. The implications of these pathological findings on the medical and endovascular treatment of intracranial atherosclerosis are discussed.