Effectiveness of t-PA in acute ischemic stroke: outcome relates to appropriateness

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether the demonstrated efficacy of tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) for acute ischemic stroke can be effective in a community setting. METHODS: Sixty-eight consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke treated with IV t-PA within 3 hours of symptom onset by attending general neurologists in a busy teaching hospital. Outcome measures at 3 months were the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), functional outcome (independence [modified Rankin score 0-2], dependence [modified Rankin score 3-5], and death), and symptomatic hemorrhage. Appropriately treated patients were defined by adherence to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) guidelines. Effectiveness is expressed as the absolute risk reduction in which the baseline risk is assumed to be similar to that of the NINDS control group. RESULTS: Of 68 consecutively treated patients (with a mean baseline NIHSS score of 15 +/- 6), 26 (38%) made a full recovery and 39 (57%) made an independent recovery. The 11 patients who violated protocol had a lower probability of independence (p < 0.02) and full neurologic recovery (p < 0.02) and a higher probability of symptomatic hemorrhage (p < 0.05) and death (p < 0.01) compared with those of 57 patients treated according to NINDS guidelines. CONCLUSIONS: The use of t-PA for stroke in this community is effective with a number needed to treat of six. The risk of symptomatic hemorrhage is similar to that noted in randomized trials. Treating patients who violate protocol results in excess risk with no observable benefit.     

Tissue plasminogen activator for acute stroke in everyday clinical practice.

Thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke has become a reality. The aim of our study was to assess the opportunity and practicality of establishing acute stroke treatment in a hospital that did not participate in acute stroke treatment trials, as well as to prospectively analyze 2 groups of patients who reached the Emergency Department (ED) within 3 hours who were either treated or not treated with tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA). The average score for severity of neurological deficits for the patients who received t-PA was 14 on the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). We compare this group with 18 patients who did not receive t-PA but had similar NIHSS scores (13.9 average). Both groups were matched for age and other comorbidity factors. We concluded that the establishment of an acute stroke treatment algorithm is possible de novo in a hospital that is equipped with computed tomography (CT) and neurosurgery services. The number of patients who can receive t-PA treatment is limited by the strict inclusion and exclusion criteria. Prolonged door-to-needle time was caused by delays in CT interpretation, processing of laboratory results, and stabilization of blood pressure. Patients who received t-PA had a shorter length of stay, were more independent, and had a better survival rate after 1 year. Our findings were in agreement with the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Stroke Study that led to the approval of the use of t-PA in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke.     

Flow diversion in transcranial Doppler ultrasound is associated with better improvement in patients with acute middle cerebral artery occlusion

BACKGROUND: Flow diversion (FD) can occur with an acute middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion. FD is thought to represent the collateral blood flow to the occluded MCA territory, but it is unclear whether or not FD lessens the stroke severity or leads to improved outcome. METHODS: Patients with a proximal MCA occlusion were selected from the CLOTBUST trial data bank. FD to the anterior or posterior cerebral artery was determined using transcranial Doppler ultrasound. Stroke severity and clinical improvement were measured using the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores. RESULTS: We evaluated 47 patients with an isolated M1 MCA occlusion who received intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) within 3 h of symptom onset. FD was present in 83% of the patients. Median baseline NIHSS scores were 15.5 in the FD- group and 18 in the FD+ group (n.s.). Complete recanalization rates were 25 and 25.6% (n.s.). In 35 patients with a persistent occlusion, the average NIHSS score reduction was 22% (FD+) and 0.52% (FD-) during 90 min after t-PA bolus (p=0.017), and 29 versus -25% during the first 24 h after the t-PA bolus, respectively (p=0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with persistent MCA occlusions after thrombolytic treatment, arterial blood flow diversion is associated with earlier and better neurological improvement. FD has protective effects on the ischemic brain tissue with persistent MCA occlusion.     

早期神经功能改善对缺血性卒中患者静脉溶栓预后的预测作用

目的探究缺血性卒中患者静脉溶栓后基于美国国立卫生研究院卒中量表(National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale,NIHSS)评分的早期神经功能改善(early neurologic improvement,ENI)对患者3个月结局的预测作用。方法本研究的入选患者来自中国急性缺血性卒中溶栓监测登记研究(Thrombolysis Implementation and Monitoring of Acute Ischemic Stroke in China,TIMS-China),从中选取所有进行溶栓前NIHSS评分、溶栓后2 h和24 h NIHSS评分的患者,将ENI定义为溶栓后2 h NIHSS评分减少≥5分或NIHSS评分等于0分,以及溶栓后24 h NIHSS评分减少≥8分或NIHSS评分等于0分,结局指标包括溶栓后90 d的改良Rankin量表(modified Rankin Scale,m RS)评分、症状性颅内出血(symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage,SICH)情况及患者的死亡率,采用Logistics回归模型分析早期神经功能改善对患者3个月结局的预测作用。结果共纳入1100例患者,在溶栓后2 h,310(28.18%)例患者具有ENI,在溶栓后24 h,272(24.73%)例患者具有ENI。在多因素Logistic回归分析模型中,调整了年龄、心房颤动病史、基线血糖水平、基线NIHSS评分水平及其他相关变量后发现,无论是溶栓后2 h还是溶栓后24 h,ENI组患者与非-ENI组患者相比,均具有更好的3个月良好功能结局(2 h:OR 3.772;95%CI 2.676~5.316,P0.001;24 h:OR 16.392;95%CI 10.370~25.912,P0.001)以及更低的死亡率(2 h:OR 0.504;95%CI 0.268~0.950,P=0.034;24 h:OR 0.149;95%CI 0.061~0.366,P0.001),同时,其出血风险(2 h:OR 1.979;95%CI 0.621~6.301,P=0.248;24 h:OR-;95%CI-,P=0.928)均未增加。结论静脉注射重组组织纤溶酶原激活剂(recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator,rt-PA)溶栓后早期神经功能改善的缺血性卒中患者具有更加良好的3个月功能预后。     

Baseline NIH Stroke Scale score strongly predicts outcome after stroke: A report of the Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST).

OBJECTIVE: To compare the baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score and the Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST) stroke subtype as predictors of outcomes at 7 days and 3 months after ischemic stroke. METHODS: Using data collected from 1,281 patients enrolled in a clinical trial, subtype of stroke was categorized using the TOAST classification, and neurologic impairment at baseline was quantified using the NIHSS. Outcomes were assessed at 7 days and 3 months using the Barthel Index (BI) and the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS). An outcome was rated as excellent if the GOS score was 1 and the BI was 19 or 20 (scale of 0 to 20). Analyses were adjusted for age, sex, race, and history of previous stroke. RESULTS: The baseline NIHSS score strongly predicted outcome, with one additional point on the NIHSS decreasing the likelihood of excellent outcomes at 7 days by 24% and at 3 months by 17%. At 3 months, excellent outcomes were noted in 46% of patients with NIHSS scores of 7 to 10 and in 23% of patients with scores of 11 to 15. After multivariate adjustment, lacunar stroke had an odds ratio of 3.1 (95% CI, 1.5 to 6.4) for an excellent outcome at 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: The NIHSS score strongly predicts the likelihood of a patient's recovery after stroke. A score of > or =16 forecasts a high probability of death or severe disability whereas a score of < or =6 forecasts a good recovery. Only the TOAST subtype of lacunar stroke predicts outcomes independent of the NIHSS score.     

Early stroke treatment associated with better outcome: the NINDS rt-PA stroke study

BACKGROUND: The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) rt-PA Stroke Study showed a similar percentage of intracranial hemorrhage and good outcome in patients 3 months after stroke treatment given 0 to 90 minutes and 91 to 180 minutes after stroke onset. At 24 hours after stroke onset more patients treated 0 to 90 compared to 91 to 180 minutes after stroke onset had improved by four or more points on the NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS). The authors performed further analyses to characterize the relationship of onset-to-treatment time (OTT) to outcome at 3 months, early improvement at 24 hours, and intracranial hemorrhage within 36 hours. METHODS: Univariate analyses identified potentially confounding variables associated with OTT that could mask an OTT-treatment interaction. Tests for OTT-treatment interactions adjusting for potential masking confounders were performed. An OTT-treatment interaction was considered significant if p < or = 0.10, implying that treatment effectiveness was related to OTT. RESULTS: For 24-hour improvement, there were no masking confounders identified and there was an OTT-treatment interaction (p = 0.08). For 3-month favorable outcome, the NIHSS met criteria for a masking confounder. After adjusting for NIHSS as a covariate, an OTT-treatment interaction was detected (p = 0.09): the adjusted OR (95% CI) for a favorable 3-month outcome associated with recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) was 2.11 (1.33 to 3.35) in the 0 to 90 minute stratum and 1.69 (1.09 to 2.62) in the 91 to 180 minute stratum. In the group treated with rt-PA, after adjusting for baseline NIHSS, an effect of OTT on the occurrence of intracranial hemorrhage was not detected. CONCLUSIONS: If the NINDS rt-PA Stroke Trial treatment protocol is followed, this analysis suggests that patients treated 0 to 90 minutes from stroke onset with rt-PA have an increased odds of improvement at 24 hours and favorable 3-month outcome compared to patients treated later than 90 minutes. No effect of OTT on intracranial hemorrhage was detected within the group treated with rt-PA, possibly due to low power.     

Intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) for acute ischemic stroke in a local university hospital]

Thrombolytic therapy for ischemic stroke has not been approved in Japan yet. However, we have used intravenous t-PA for acute ischemic stroke patients. We reviewed the clinical data on patients who were treated with intravenous t-PA and entered in the stroke registry of our hospital between April 1999 and March 2004. Of 408 acute ischemic stroke patients, 20 patients (mean age 73.6 +/- 10.9, male 15, female 5) were given intravenous t-PA (alteplase in 18 patients and monteplase in two patients). The baseline NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and Japan Stroke Scale (JSS) scores were 17.5 (median) and 13.3 +/- 7.6 (mean), respectively. The NIHSS and JSS at discharge were 12.5 and 12.1 +/- 11.8, respectively. Symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage occurred in one patient. The rate of favorable outcome (mRS 0-3) at 90 days was 40%. The rate of favorable outcome at 90 days in our study was lower than that in reported randomized trials of intravenous t-PA, such as the NINDS study or the ATIANTIS trial, perhaps because age and baseline severity were higher in our patients than in the subjects in these trials. Another reason may be the dose of t-PA. As we concerned about the occurrence of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage and there are no data on appropriate dose of t-PA for Japanese patients, the dose of t-PA that we used was 0.4 mg/kg in most patients. Although five patients died in our study, the cause of death in four patients was not hemorrhagic transformation but deteriorating ischemic infraction. The dose of t-PA that we used may have been safe but a little low for thrombolysis.     

Intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator therapy for ischemic stroke: Houston experience 1996 to 2000.

CONTEXT: Intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) therapy using the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke criteria has been given with variable safety to less than 5% of the patients who have ischemic strokes nationwide. Our center is experienced in treating large numbers of stroke patients with intravenous tPA. OBJECTIVE: To report our total 4-year experience in the treatment of consecutive patients who had an ischemic stroke. DESIGN: Prospective inception cohort registry of all patients seen by our stroke team and an additional retrospective medical record review of all patients treated between January 1, 1996, and June 1, 2000. SETTING: A veteran stroke team composed of fellows and stroke-specialty faculty servicing 1 university and 3 community hospitals in a large urban setting. PATIENTS: Consecutive patients with ischemic stroke treated within the first 3 hours of symptom onset. INTERVENTION: According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke protocol, 0.9 mg/kg of intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator was administered. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Number and proportion treated, patient demographics, time to treatment, hemorrhage rates, and clinical outcome. RESULTS: A total of 269 patients were treated between January 1, 1996, and June 1, 2000. Their mean age was 68 years (age range, 24-93 years); 48% were women. This represented 9% of all patients admitted with symptoms of cerebral ischemia at our most active hospital (over the final 6 months, 13% of all patients with symptoms of cerebral ischemia and 15% of all acute ischemic stroke patients). Before treatment the mean +/- SD National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was 14.4 +/- 6.1 points (median, 14 points; range, 4-33 points). A tPA bolus was given at 137 minutes (range, 30-180 minutes); 28% of the patients were treated within 2 hours. The mean door-to-needle time was 70 minutes (range, 10-129 minutes). The symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage rate was 5.6% of those patients with a second set of brain scans (4.5% of all patients), with a declining trend from 1996 to 2000. Protocol violations were found in 13% of all patients; the symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage rate in these patients was 15%. At 24 hours, the NIHSS score was 10 +/- 8 points (median, 8 points; range, 0-36 points). In-hospital mortality was 15% and the patients' discharge NIHSS scores were 7 +/- 7 points (median, 3 points; range, 0-35 points). CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous tPA therapy can be given to up to 15% of the patients with acute ischemic stroke with a low risk of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage. Successful experience with intravenous tPA therapy depends on the experience and organization of the treating team and adherence to published guidelines.     

Predicting prognosis after stroke: a placebo group analysis from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke rt-PA Stroke Trial

BACKGROUND: Physicians are often asked to predict outcome after acute stroke. Very little information is available that can reliably predict the likelihood of severe disability or death. OBJECTIVE: To develop a practical method for predicting a poor outcome after acute ischemic stroke. METHODS: Data from the placebo arms of Parts 1 and 2 of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke rt-PA [recombinant tissue plasminogen activator] Stroke Trial were used to identify variables that could predict a poor outcome, defined as moderately severe disability, severe disability, or death (Modified Rankin Scale score >3) 3 months after stroke. RESULTS: Baseline variables that predicted poor outcome were the NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) >17 plus atrial fibrillation, yielding a positive predictive value (PPV) of 96% (95% CI, 88 to 100%). The best predictor at 24 hours was NIHSS >22, yielding a PPV of 98% (95% CI, 93 to 100%). The best predictor at 7 to 10 days was NIHSS >16, yielding a PPV of 92% (95% CI, 85 to 99%). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with a severe neurologic deficit after acute ischemic stroke, as measured by the NIHSS, have a poor prognosis. During the first week after acute ischemic stroke, it is possible to identify a subset of patients who are highly likely to have a poor outcome. These findings require confirmation in a separate study.     

Efficacy of intraarterial thrombolysis of basilar artery stroke.

Background: Stroke from basilar artery (BA) occlusion is a devastating neurological event with reported mortality rates of up to 90%. This series reports our experience in 15 cases using intraarterial (IA) thrombolysis to treat basilar artery stroke at the Oregon Stroke Center. Methods: Over a 4-year period, consecutive cases of basilar artery stroke were treated with IA urokinase (UK) if they met the following criteria: had a baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score greater than 6; symptoms began within 48 hours; had no or minimal early infarct signs on computed tomography (CT) scan; and angiogram confirmed basilar occlusion. Patients were treated with UK infused via a microcatheter directly into the clot. Angiographic efficacy was assessed by a repeat angiogram at the end of infusion and clinical efficacy was determined by NIHSS evaluation at 48 hours and 3 months. Results: Fifteen patients, mean age 59 (16 to 78) and baseline NIHSS of 30 (7 to 40), were treated at a mean of 12 hours (4 to 48). An average dose of 500,000 (150,000 to 1,250,000) units of UK was given over 1 to 2 hours. Excellent vessel recanalization occurred in 12 of 15 (80%) patients. All three cases without recanalization died within 48 hours (100%). Of the 12 patients with recanalization, 2 died (16.7%), whereas the 9 of 10 remaining had mild or moderate neurological deficits (mean NIHSS of 5) at 3 months. Conclusion: IA thrombolysis has the potential to decrease mortality and improve outcome in cases with severe basilar artery stroke even when administered after 6 hours.     

急性缺血性卒中患者超急性期NIHSS评分与CT血管成像脑血管狭窄或闭塞关系研究

目的探讨急性缺血性卒中超早期美国国立卫生研究院脑卒中量表(NIHSS)评分与CT脑血管成像(CTA)对脑血管闭塞病变的预测价值。方法对93例急性缺血性脑卒中患者在发病6h内进行NIHSS评分,根据NIHSS评分分为NIHSS评分≤6分组、NIHSS7～14分组、NIHSS≥15分组。同时进行CTA检查。分析NIHSS评分与CTA显示血管病变的关系。结果 93例急性缺血性脑卒中患者NIHSS评分平均为9.57±5.10分。CTA显示脑动脉正常32例(34.41%),脑动脉狭窄23例(24.73%),脑动脉闭塞38例(40.86%)。CTA显示有脑动脉狭窄或闭塞患者的NIHSS评分(10.53±5.43)高于无脑动脉病变的患者评分(8.13±4.23,P<0.01),其中脑动脉闭塞患者NIHSS评分(12.14±4.99)明显高于无脑动脉病变患者评分(P<0.001)。NIHSS评分≤6分组的16例患者中CTA显示脑动脉狭窄4例(25%),脑动脉闭塞3例(18.75%);NIHSS评分为7～14分组共66例,脑动脉狭窄和动脉闭塞比例分别为24.24%(16/66)和43.94%(29/66);NIHSS评分15分以上组患者脑动脉狭窄和动脉闭塞的比例分别为27.27%(2/11)和54.55%(6/11)。NIHSS评分≥15者在CTA上显示血管狭窄或闭塞的阳性率达95%,根据NIHSS评分预测CTA上显示的血管闭塞的阳性预测值为84.3%。经Logistic回归分析,发病时NIHSS评分与CTA检出血管闭塞相关(r=0.22,P<0.05),超急性期NIHSS评分为预测CTA显示血管闭塞的独立因素(OR=1.1,95%CI=0.6～1.65,P<0.001)。结论急性缺血性脑卒中超早期HIHSS评分与CTA显示脑动脉闭塞相关,急性缺血性卒中的神经功能缺损程度较重往往提示CTA上存在大血管狭窄或闭塞的可能。     

A phase III randomized efficacy trial of 2000 mg citicoline in acute ischemic stroke patients.

BACKGROUND: Citicoline may reduce CNS ischemic injury by stabilizing cell membranes and reducing free radical generation. Previous safety and efficacy trials in patients who have had acute strokes suggested that citicoline may improve neurologic outcome with minimal side effects. OBJECTIVE: To determine the safety and efficacy of citicoline treatment in acute stroke patients. METHOD: An 118-center, randomized, double-blind, efficacy trial in 899 patients compared placebo (n = 446) with citicoline (n = 453) (1000 mg PO twice a day) for 6 weeks, with a 6-week post-treatment follow-up period. Patients with acute (< or =24 hours) ischemic strokes clinically thought to be in the middle cerebral artery territory with NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores > or =8 were enrolled. RESULTS: Mean time to treatment was 13 hours for both groups and mean age was 67 years for those receiving placebo and 68 years for those receiving citicoline. Mean baseline NIHSS scores were 14.5 for placebo and 13.9 for citicoline (p = 0.06); medians were 14 for placebo and 13 for citicoline (p = 0.04). The incidence and type of side effects were similar between the groups. There were no between-group differences on the planned primary analysis, percent of patients with a > or =7-point NIHSS score change at 90 days (placebo 51%, citicoline 52%). There were no between-group differences on the other planned secondary analyses at 90 days, including mortality. However, post hoc analyses using standard "excellent recovery" measures suggested a possible treatment effect on the modified Rankin 0 or 1 (last observation carried forward: placebo 20%, citicoline 26%; p = 0.025) as well as a global outcome statistic. CONCLUSIONS: Citicoline was safe but ineffective in improving the outcome of patients with acute ischemic stroke as measured by the planned analyses. Post hoc analyses suggest that a modest treatment effect may have been seen if more traditional analyses had been used.     

Safety and efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy with the Solitaire device in large artery occlusion

Background and Purpose: Intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) has limited efficacy in proximal large vessel occlusions. This study was to assess the safety and efficacy of mechanical thrombectomy with a retrievable Solitaire stent in acute large artery occlusions . Materials and Methods: This is a single center study enrolling patients treated with Solitaire-assisted thrombectomy between November 2010 and March 2011. Inclusion criteria were severe stroke of National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score ≥10, treatment initiation within 6 hours from onset, and an angiographically verified occlusion of proximal middle cerebral artery (MCA) or internal carotid artery (ICA). The primary outcome was recanalization defined as Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarct (TICI) reperfusion grade 2b/3. Secondary outcomes were good functional outcome at 3 months (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] ≤2), early substantial neurological improvement (NIHSS score improvement ≥8 at 24 hours), and symptomatic hemorrhagic transformation (SHT). Results: Ten patients were consecutively enrolled: Age: 72.4 ? 5.7 years; female: 70%; baseline median NIHSS score: 19.5; and ICA occlusion in 50% and M1 portion of MCA occlusion in 50%. Six patients received intravenous TPA before intra-arterial treatment, and five patients were treated with adjuvant intra-arterial urokinase. Successful recanalization was achieved in 7 (70%) patients. Four (40%) patients had a good functional outcome at 3 months, and three (30%) patients had an early substantial neurological improvement. SHT occurred in two patients (20%), and 3-month mortality rate was 30%. There was no procedure-related complication. Conclusions: Mechanical thrombectomy with the Solitaire device can effectively recanalize proximal large vessel occlusions, and potentially improves clinical outcome.     

高龄急性轻型缺血性卒中早期阿替普酶静脉溶栓疗效观察

目的 探讨高龄轻型缺血性卒中3 h内行阿替普酶静脉溶栓治疗的疗效及安全性。 方法 将我院2015年10月-2017年10月连续收治入院的发病3 h内48例高龄急性轻型缺血性卒中患者 随机分为阿替普酶静脉溶栓组24例和未溶栓组24例。比较两组患者入院时的一般情况,基线美国 国立卫生研究院卒中量表（National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale,NHISS）评分,治疗24 h后颅内出 血转化率,治疗后90 d改良Rankin量表（modified Rankin Scale,mRS）评分及90 d病死率。 结果 阿替普酶静脉溶栓组和未溶栓组患者一般临床资料、基线NIHSS评分比较,差异无统计学意 义。阿替普酶静脉溶栓组和未溶栓组治疗24 h后颅内出血转化率分别为4.17%和0（P =1.000）,两组 90 d病死率均为4.17%（P =1.000）,阿替普酶静脉溶栓组及未溶栓组90 d mRS评分为0～2分的比率 分别为83.33%和54.17%（P =0.029）。 结论 早期阿替普酶静脉溶栓治疗高龄急性轻型缺血性卒中不增加急性期颅内出血转化的风险, 可以改善高龄轻型缺血性卒中患者预后,不增加病死率。     

重组组织型纤溶酶原激活剂静脉治疗轻型缺血性卒中患者的疗效分析

目的 观察轻型缺血性卒中患者重组组织型纤溶酶原激活剂（recombinant tissue plasminogen activator,rt-PA）静脉溶栓治疗的疗效及安全性。      

Intravenous rt-PA for acute stroke: comparing its effectiveness in younger and older patients

OBJECTIVE: To study the short and long term differences in outcome between patients > or =80 years of age and those < or =79 years of age who received intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (iv rt-PA) for acute stroke within the first 3 hours of symptom onset. METHODS: We studied consecutive patients treated with iv rt-PA for acute stroke, with prospective follow up of up to 3 years. Outcome measures included National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, Barthel Index (BI), modified Rankin score (MRS), and stroke mortality. Patients were split into two groups: younger (< or =79 years) and older (> or =80 years). RESULTS: There were 65 patients in the younger cohort and 31 patients in the older. Older patients were more likely to present with more severe baseline stroke (p = 0.04; odds ratio (OR) 3.04; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03 to 8.98). Stroke mortality at 90 days was 10.8% in the younger and 32.3% in the older cohort (p = 0.01). At 90 days' follow up, patients in the older cohort with more severe stroke (NIHSS score > or =11) were nearly 10 times more likely to have poor outcome compared with their younger counterparts presenting with severe stroke (p = 0.001; OR = 10.36; 95% CI 2.16 to 49.20). Baseline stroke severity and age were the only independent and equal predictors for stroke outcome. No threshold was found for age or baseline stroke severity predicting outcome. CONCLUSION: Older patients presenting with more severe baseline stroke are much less likely to benefit from iv rt-PA as compared with their younger counterparts.     

Monitoring intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator thrombolysis for acute ischemic stroke with diffusion and perfusion MRI

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Intravenous recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA) administration is an effective therapy for ischemic stroke when initiated within 3 hours and possibly up to 6 hours after symptom onset. To improve patient selection, a fast diagnostic tool that allows reliable diagnosis of hemorrhage and ischemia, vessel status, and tissue at risk at an early stage may be useful. We studied the feasibility of stroke MRI for the initial evaluation and follow-up monitoring of patients undergoing intravenous thrombolysis. METHODS: Stroke MRI (diffusion- and perfusion-weighted imaging [DWI and PWI, respectively], magnetic resonance angiography, and T2-weighted imaging) was performed before, during, or after thrombolysis and on days 2 and 5. We assessed clinical scores (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale [NIHSS], Scandinavian Stroke Scale [SSS], Barthel Index, and Rankin scale) at days 1, 2, 5, 30, and 90. Furthermore, we performed volumetric analysis of infarct volumes on days 1, 2, and 5 as shown in PWI, DWI, and T2-weighted imaging. RESULTS: Twenty-four patients received rtPA within a mean time interval after symptom onset of 3.27 hours and stroke MRI of 3.43 hours. Vessel occlusion was present in 20 of 24 patients; 11 vessels recanalized (group 1), and 9 did not (group 2). The baseline PWI lesion volume was significantly larger (P=0.008) than outcome lesion size in group 1, whereas baseline DWI lesion volume was significantly smaller (P=0.008) than final infarct size in group 2. Intergroup outcome differed significantly for all scores at days 30 and 90 (all P<0.01). Intragroup differences were significant in group 1 for change in SSS and NIHSS between day 1 and day 30 (P=0.003) and for SSS only between day 1 and day 90 (P=0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Stroke MRI provides comprehensive prognostically relevant information regarding the brain in hyperacute stroke. Stroke MRI may be used as a single imaging tool in acute stroke to identify and monitor candidates for thrombolysis. It is proposed that stroke MRI is safe, reliable, and cost effective; however, our data do not prove this assumption. Early recanalization achieved by thrombolysis can save tissue at risk if present and may result in significantly smaller infarcts and a significantly better outcome.     

Differential patterns of evolution in acute middle cerebral artery infarction with perfusion-diffusion mismatch: atherosclerotic vs. cardioembolic occlusion

BACKGROUND: An acute perfusion-diffusion mismatch is known to be the strongest predictor of infarct growth. However, the differential patterns of clinical and radiological evolution according to stroke mechanism are unknown. METHODS: The study retrospectively reviewed consecutive patients who had 1) acute middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory infarction, 2) diffusion- and perfusion-weighted imaging (DWI and PWI) and MR angiography within 24 h of onset, and follow-up DWI 5 days later, 3) stenosis (>/=50%) or occlusion of MCA on baseline imaging, 4) a baseline PWI-DWI mismatch >20%, and 5) either atherosclerotic MCA disease (MCAD) or cardioembolism (CE). National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores and infarct volume at baseline and 5 days were obtained. RESULTS: Of 90 patients, 52 had MCAD and 38 had CE. At baseline, CE group had more severe stroke (median NIHSS, 9 vs. 5; p=0.001) and larger infarct volume (median 8.32 cc vs. 3.0 cc; p=0.034) than MCAD group. During the 1-week period, CE group had larger infarct volume growth (median 12.85 cc vs. 3.02 cc; p=0.004) than MCAD group, although clinical improvement based on NIHSS (baseline minus 5-day) tended to be higher for CE than MCAD group (median 3 vs. 1; p=0.08). The correlation between infarct volume and NIHSS score was stronger in CE (r=0.841) compared to MCAD (r=0.582) group at 5-day. CONCLUSIONS: Substantial differences in the clinico-radiological evolution of acute ischemic stroke exist according to stroke mechanism. These data emphasize the importance of the stroke mechanism in the design of MRI-based acute stroke trials.     

CT angiography in acute stroke: does it provide additional information on occurrence of infarction and functional outcome after 3 months?

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether acute phase intracranial CT angiography (CTA) independently predicts infarction and functional outcome in ischemic stroke. METHODS: Hundred and fifty-one consecutive patients with acute (<12 h) ischemic stroke who received intracranial CTA were investigated. Stroke severity on admission was determined using the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Reconstructed CTAs were investigated for relevant pathology. Follow-up imaging was performed 24-48 h after admission. Functional outcome was assessed after 3 months using the modified Rankin scale. Single factor and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to predict infarction and dependency (modified Rankin scale > or = 3) on follow-up. RESULTS: Median NIHSS on admission was 10 (IQR 3-14). Out of the 151 patients, 61 (40%) had pathological CTA findings. Infarction was demonstrated in 60/61 patients (98%) with and in 67/90 patients (74%) without vessel pathology. Presence of infarction on follow-up imaging and dependency at 3 months were correlated with pathological CTA findings on admission in single factor analysis (each p < 0.001). After adjustment for age (> or =/<65 years), NIHSS (> or =/<10), sex, therapy, and time to presentation (> or =/<3 h), only NIHSS > or = 10 on admission was predictive of dependency at follow-up (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Pathological CTA findings in the acute phase of ischemic stroke do not independently predict a poor outcome at 3 months after acute stroke.     

Correlation of Changes in Leukocytes Levels 24 Hours after Intravenous Thrombolysis With Prognosis in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke

Objective

Leukocytes play a crucial role in inflammation and immune response. This study aims to demonstrate the value of changes in leukocytes levels 24 hours after intravenous thrombolysis to predict prognosis in acute ischemic stroke (AIS).