Journal of stroke and cerebrovascular diseases : the official journal of National Stroke Association
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J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis · May 2013
Multicenter Study Comparative StudyAre racial disparities in stroke care still prevalent in certified stroke centers?
Racial differences in stroke risk and risk factor prevalence are well established. The present study explored racial differences in the delivery of care to patients with acute stroke between Joint Commission (JC)-certified hospitals and noncertified hospitals. A retrospective chart review was conducted in patients sustaining ischemic stroke admitted to 5 JC-certified centers and 5 noncertified hospitals. ⋯ Important racial disparities exist in the delivery of several acute stroke care variables. Efforts must be focused on eliminating disparities in prehospital delays. Guideline-based care tendered at JC-certified centers might help narrow disparities in acute stroke care delivery.
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J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis · May 2013
Multicenter StudyHyperacute-phase computed tomography-diffusion-weighted imaging discrepancy and response to thrombolysis.
This study investigated the incidence and clinical features of reversed discrepancy (RD) in patients with hyperacute ischemic stroke. Sixty-two patients with anterior circulation ischemic stroke were enrolled. All patients underwent computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging within 3 hours and received therapy with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator. ⋯ In contrast, all 4 patients with bRD but without DWI-W (the bRD+W- group) had no basal ganglia infarction. Dramatic improvement after intravenous tissue plasminogen activator therapy was significantly less common in the bRD+W+ group (0 of 4 patients) than in the bRD+W- group (3 of 4 patients; P = .0285). Our findings suggest that the presence of both bRD and a DWI-W lesion can be used to predict whether dramatic improvement will occur and whether the basal ganglia will progress to infarction.