Cerebrovascular diseases
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Cerebrovascular diseases · Jan 2003
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical TrialA double-blind randomised placebo-controlled evaluation of three doses of botulinum toxin type A (Dysport) in the treatment of spastic equinovarus deformity after stroke.
Calf muscle hypertonicity following stroke may impair walking rehabilitation. The aim of this study was to assess botulinum toxin (Dysport) in post-stroke calf spasticity. ⋯ Dysport resulted in a significant reduction in muscle tone, limb pain and dependence on walking aids. The greatest benefits were in patients receiving dysport 1,500 units, but 1,000 units also had significant effects. Dysport 500 units resulted in some improvements. Since few adverse events were reported, this therapy is considered safe and may be a useful treatment in post-stroke rehabilitation of the leg. Possible reasons why functional improvements in gait parameters were not observed are also discussed.
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Cerebrovascular diseases · Jan 2003
Randomized Controlled Trial Clinical TrialLong-term citicoline (cytidine diphosphate choline) use in patients with vascular dementia: neuroimaging and neuropsychological outcomes.
Cytidine diphosphate choline (citicoline) has been previously shown to have efficacy in reducing the functional impairments associated with acute stroke. Citicoline is thought to have neuroprotective benefits and has been used for the treatment of chronic cerebrovascular disorders, though its effectiveness has not been fully tested. This randomized, double-blind clinical trial was conducted to determine whether daily citicoline treatment improves neurocognitive and neuroimaging outcome over 12 months among patients diagnosed with vascular dementia (VaD). ⋯ The efficacy of long-term citicoline treatment for cognitive impairment and neuropathological decline in those patients already meeting criteria for VaD does not appear to be substantiated by the current study.
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Cerebrovascular diseases · Jan 2003
Independent predictors of late hydrocephalus in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage--analysis by multivariate logistic regression model.
We determined independent variables contributing to the development of late hydrocephalus after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). ⋯ As in previous reports, intraoperative clot removal and duration of external CSF drainage were found to be closely related to the incidence of hydrocephalus. Brain damage due to intraoperative manipulation and cerebral vasospasm is seemed to be involved in the occurrence of late hydrocephalus in this study.
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Cerebrovascular diseases · Jan 2003
Multicenter StudyComputed tomographic parameters predicting fatal outcome in large middle cerebral artery infarction.
Large middle cerebral artery (MCA) ischaemic stroke when associated with extensive mass effect can result in brain herniation and neurological death. As yet there are few guidelines to aid the selection of patients for aggressive interventional therapies, such as decompression hemicraniectomy and/or hypothermia. ⋯ We identified the role of early CT signs in predicting death following massive MCA infarction. The CT parameters anteroseptal shift (>5 versus /=2 mm, hydrocephalus, temporal lobe infarction, and other vascular territory infarction if present were predictive of fatal outcome. These CT parameters require prospective validation before they should be considered reliable markers for decision-making.
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Cerebrovascular diseases · Jan 2003
Clinical TrialInfarct volume on apparent diffusion coefficient maps correlates with length of stay and outcome after middle cerebral artery stroke.
Diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) can depict acute ischemia based on decreased apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values. ADC maps, unlike DWI (which have contributions from T2 properties), solely reflect diffusion properties. Recent studies indicate that severity of neurological deficit corresponds with degree of ADC alteration. ⋯ Infarct volume measured by using a quantitative definition for infarcted tissue on ADC maps correlated significantly with length of hospitalization (as a possible surrogate marker for short-term outcome) and functional outcome after 6 months. ADC infarct volume may provide prognostic information for patients with acute ischemic MCA stroke.