Cerebrovascular diseases
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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
Multiple hypointense vessels on susceptibility-weighted imaging in acute ischemic stroke: surrogate marker of oxygen extraction fraction in penumbra?
Multiple hypointense vessels (MHV) on susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) are frequently observed in patients with acute cerebral ischemia, but their implication has not been clearly established. To elucidate the clinical significance of MHV on SWI, we investigated the association of MHV on SWI with clinical data and other MR markers in patients with acute ischemic stroke. ⋯ More extensive MHV on SWI in acute ischemic stroke is associated with lower initial NIHSS scores, smaller diffusion lesion volume, better collateral flow, and larger DPM. Our results show the possibility that MHV on SWI may be a useful surrogate marker for predicting increased oxygen extraction fraction and diffusion-perfusion mismatch in acute ischemic hemisphere.
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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.