Cerebrovascular diseases
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Cerebrovascular diseases · Jan 2014
The prognostic value of midregional proatrial natriuretic peptide in patients with hemorrhagic stroke.
Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) is a well-known prognostic marker of outcome and mortality in patients with cardiovascular disease. Midregional proatrial natriuretic peptide (MR-proANP) is a stable fragment of the ANP precursor hormone. As a prognostic marker after ischemic stroke, it reliably predicts poststroke mortality and functional outcome. This study aimed to analyze the prognostic value of MR-proANP in patients with hemorrhagic stroke, i.e. subarachnoid (SAH) and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). ⋯ Increased levels of MR-proANP are independently associated with poor functional outcome and increased mortality after 180 days in patients with hemorrhagic stroke. Endovascular temperature control had no significant influence on MR-proANP levels.
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Cerebrovascular diseases · Jan 2014
Early time course of FLAIR signal intensity differs between acute ischemic stroke patients with and without hyperintense acute reperfusion marker.
In animal models of stroke, the time course of blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruptions has been elaborately studied. In human patients, leakage of gadolinium into cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) space, visualized on MRI fluid attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) images, is considered a sign of BBB disruptions. It was termed 'hyperintense acute reperfusion marker' (HARM) and was associated with hemorrhages. However, the time course of the leakage is unknown and difficult to study in human patients. Also, the association of HARM with signal intensities and enhancement in the parenchyma on FLAIR images has not been thoroughly researched. ⋯ HARM does not only represent a contrast medium leakage from the pial system into the CSF space. It is accompanied by a markedly increased rSI in the early ischemic lesion on FLAIR images, which is likely due to parenchymal enhancement. The lack of differences on B0 images excludes a pure T2 effect.
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Cerebrovascular diseases · Jan 2014
Decompressive craniectomy in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: a single-center matched-pair analysis.
The role of decompressive craniectomy (DC) in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) patients is still controversial. In this study we evaluated the effect of DC for aSAH patients. ⋯ There was no significant advantage for patients treated with DC, but more than 25% achieved a good long-term outcome. While the value of DC is deemed uncertain, it may be effective for a very specific subset of aSAH patients. Further comparative studies are needed to resolve this matter.
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Cerebrovascular diseases · Jan 2014
Risk of intracerebral hemorrhage after thrombolysis in patients with asymptomatic hemorrhage on T2*.
Intravenous thrombolysis using the tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) is contraindicated for patients with a history of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). T2*-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is able to detect asymptomatic ICH. If there is an association between asymptomatic ICH on T2* before t-PA therapy and ICH after t-PA therapy, we may be able to take preventive measures before starting t-PA therapy in patients with MRI-proven hemorrhage. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether asymptomatic ICH seen on T2* increases the risk of new ICH after t-PA therapy. ⋯ The presence of T2* hypointensity as a marker of asymptomatic ICH may not be associated with new ICH and sICH after t-PA therapy.
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Cerebrovascular diseases · Jan 2014
Lower NIH stroke scale scores are required to accurately predict a good prognosis in posterior circulation stroke.
The NIH stroke scale (NIHSS) is an indispensable tool that aids in the determination of acute stroke prognosis and decision making. Patients with posterior circulation (PC) strokes often present with lower NIHSS scores, which may result in the withholding of thrombolytic treatment from these patients. However, whether these lower initial NIHSS scores predict better long-term prognoses is uncertain. We aimed to assess the utility of the NIHSS at presentation for predicting the functional outcome at 3 months in anterior circulation (AC) versus PC strokes. ⋯ The NIHSS cutoff that most accurately predicts outcomes is 4 points higher in AC compared to PC infarctions. There is potential for poor outcomes in patients with PC strokes and low NIHSS scores, suggesting that thrombolytic treatment should not be withheld from these patients based solely on the NIHSS. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel.