Stroke; a journal of cerebral circulation
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Rapid Neurologic Improvement Predicts Favorable Outcome 90 Days After Thrombectomy in the DEFUSE 3 Study.
Background and Purpose- Thrombectomy in late time windows leads to improved outcomes in patients with ischemic stroke due to large vessel occlusion. We determined whether patients with rapid neurological improvement (RNI) 24 hours after thrombectomy were more likely to have a favorable clinical outcome in the DEFUSE 3 study (Endovascular Therapy Following Imaging Evaluation for Ischemic Stroke 3). Methods- All patients who underwent thrombectomy in DEFUSE 3 were included. ⋯ RNI was a favorable prognostic sign following late-window thrombectomy in DEFUSE 3. Clinical Trial Registration- URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT02586415.
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Background and Purpose- We sought to evaluate the available literature to determine whether primary seizure prevention with antiepileptic drugs reduces the risk of poor outcomes and clinically relevant seizures among adult patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage. Methods- Meta-analysis of observational studies and randomized controlled trials evaluating the use of any antiepileptic drug for primary seizure prevention among adult (≥18 years) patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage. The primary end point was poor clinical outcome at the longest recorded follow-up, defined as either a high (>3) modified Rankin Scale score or all-cause mortality during follow-up if the modified Rankin Scale score was not recorded. ⋯ Overall, the use of antiepileptic drugs was not associated with a high Rankin Scale or all-cause mortality (odds ratio: 0.99; 95% CI, 0.66-1.49) or incident seizures (odds ratio: 0.89; 95% CI, 0.52-1.51) at the longest recorded follow-up time. Conclusions- The use of antiepileptic drugs as primary prevention among adult patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage is not associated with improved neurological function during long-term follow-up. Future studies should focus on the preventive use of distinct antiepileptic agents among patients at high risk of both seizures and poor outcomes.
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Background and Purpose- Hemispheric stroke studies associating lateropulsion (pusher syndrome) with the location of brain lesions have had mixed results from small, unmatched samples. This study was designed to determine whether lateropulsion localizes to specific brain regions across patients with stroke using a case-control design. Methods- Fifty patients with lateropulsion after stroke were matched with 50 stroke patients without lateropulsion using age, time since onset of stroke, admission motor Functional Independence Measure score, lesion side, and gender. ⋯ Despite adequate matching, motor performance and total Functional Independence Measure scores differed at a group level between patients with and without lateropulsion. Conclusions- This analysis implicated lesion involvement of the inferior parietal lobe as a key neuroanatomical determinant of developing lateropulsion. A better understanding of the anatomic underpinnings of lateropulsion may improve rehabilitation efforts, including the potential for informing noninvasive neuromodulation approaches.
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Background and Purpose- The diagnosis of transient ischemic attack is challenging. Evidence of acute ischemia on MRI diffusion-weighted imaging is highly variable and confirmed in only about one-third of patients. This study investigated the significance of blood-brain barrier dysfunction (BBBD) mapping in patients with transient neurological deficits, as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker required for risk stratification and stroke prevention. ⋯ Patients who developed new stroke during follow-up had a significantly greater BBBD at the initial presentation ( P=0.03) with a risk ratio of 5.35 for recurrent stroke. Conclusions- This is the first description of the extent and localization of BBBD in patients with transient ischemic attack/minor stroke. We propose BBBD mapping as a valuable tool for detection of subtle brain ischemia and a promising predictive biomarker required for risk stratification and stroke prevention.
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study
Safety and Outcomes of Tenecteplase in Moderate and Severe Ischemic Stroke.
Background and Purpose- Tenecteplase represents a promising alternative to alteplase as thrombolytic treatment in acute ischemic stroke. There are limited data on tenecteplase 0.4 mg/kg in patients with increased stroke severity. We aimed to assess safety and efficacy of tenecteplase 0.4 mg/kg in patients with moderate and severe ischemic stroke. ⋯ Future studies assessing tenecteplase 0.4 mg/kg should monitor safety parameters closely in patients with severe stroke. Clinical Trial Registration- URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01949948.