Cardiovascular risk factors in patients aged 85 or older with ischemic stroke

OBJECTIVES: To define a cardiovascular risk factor profile in very old patients with ischemic stroke. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data from a prospective hospital-based stroke registry was collected. Demographic characteristics and cardiovascular risk factors in individuals aged 85 years or older with ischemic stroke (n=303) were compared with patients under 85 years (n=1537). RESULTS: The study population accounted for 16.5% of all cases of ischemic stroke. The mean (S.D.) age was 88.2 (2.8) years (70% women). Hypertension occurred in 44.9% of patients, atrial fibrillation in 42.6%, diabetes in 16.2%, and congestive heart failure in 15.5%. The most frequent stroke subtypes were cardioembolic (36%) and atherothrombotic (31.4%) infarction. Congestive heart failure (odds ratio [OR]=3.62), chronic renal disease (OR=2.54), female sex (OR=2.27), previous cerebrovascular disease (OR=1.71), and atrial fibrillation (OR=1.38) were significantly associated with ischemic stroke, whereas diabetes (OR=0.68), hypertension (OR=0.61), hyperlipidemia (OR=0.45), and heavy smoking (OR=0.21) occurred more frequently in patients under 85 years. CONCLUSION: Adequate treatment of potentially modifiable risk factors, including congestive heart failure, chronic renal disease, and atrial fibrillation may contribute to prevent ischemic stroke in very old people.     

Homogeneity of large and small vessel disease over time: Arguments from a study on recurrent stroke in 998 patients with first cerebral infarct

Background: Data on subtype and location of recurrent stroke after a first cerebral infarct may be relevant for prognosis and for understanding progression of the vascular disease underlying stroke subtypes over time. Therefore, we studied 30-day case fatality, stroke subtype, and stroke location in first and recurrent stroke, accounting for stroke subtype. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional follow-up of 998 patients with first cerebral infarct registered in a hospital-based stroke registry. Results: After a follow-up of 691 ± 521 (SD) days, there were 138 (13.8%) first recurrent strokes, 84 (61%) of which had computed tomography. Recurrent stroke was of the same subtype as the first stroke in 27 (57%) of 339 lacunar, 38 (83%) of 435 atherothrombotic, and 33 (94%) of 224 cardioembolic cerebral infarcts. The annual stroke recurrence rate was about 7% for the whole group. Logistic regression analysis showed lacunar first stroke and hypertension as independent predictors for recurrent lacunar stroke, and atherothrombotic first stroke type for recurrent atherothrombotic stroke. Stroke recurrences that were of the same type as the first stroke occurred in the same brain area as the first stroke in 70% of lacunar and 79% of atherothrombotic cases. This was more frequent when compared with nonsimilar recurrence types: odds ratio (OR) 4.38, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.09–15.79; and OR 5.63, 95% CI 1.38–22.92, respectively. Only 33% of cardioembolic recurrent strokes occurred in the same area. The 30-day case fatality in index and recurrent stroke was, respectively, 2% and 14% (OR 7.90, 95% CI 2.78–22.48) for lacunar, 10% and 26% (OR 3.27, 95% CI 1.62–6.60) for atherothrombotic, and 23% and 31% (OR 1.47, 95% CI 0.55–3.93) for cardioembolic index infarcts. Conclusions: The annual stroke recurrence rate after a first brain infarcts is about 7%. Early case fatality after recurrent stroke is higher than after first stroke, with marked differences between stroke subtypes. Progression of small and large vessel disease, and the brain area of their location, are rather homogeneous over time.     

Early recurrence of ischemic stroke in Japanese patients: the Japan standard stroke registry study

BACKGROUND: To determine the factors that contribute to early ischemic stroke recurrence in Japanese patients. METHODS: A multicenter stroke registration study based on a computerized database from 54 Japanese institutes, involving 8,036 patients with brain infarction who were hospitalized within 48 h after symptom onset between January 2000 and March 2004. RESULTS: Within 30 days after the initial stroke, 395 patients (4.9%) developed a recurrent stroke. Recurrence most frequently occurred in atherothrombotic patients (6.6%), followed by cardioembolic patients (6.2%). Overall, hypertension (OR 1.348, 95% CI 1.071-1.696) and atrial fibrillation (OR 1.503, 95% CI 1.177-1.918), but not diabetes mellitus, were independently predictive of early recurrence. In atherothrombotic patients, diabetes mellitus (OR 1.485, 95% CI 1.058-2.085) and atrial fibrillation (OR 1.998, 95% CI 1.231-3.244) were independently related to early recurrence. At hospital discharge, the modified Rankin Scale score was higher in patients who had an early recurrence (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: This study was based on a large number of Japanese patients and confirmed that hypertension and atrial fibrillation contribute to early ischemic stroke recurrence. In addition, analysis by stroke subtype showed that diabetes mellitus was independently related to early recurrence in atherothrombotic patients.     

Long-term prognosis, by stroke subtypes, after a first-ever stroke: a hospital-based study over a 20-year period

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The influence of stroke subtype on recurrence, and determinants of recurrence-free survival after a first-ever stroke are not fully understood. We aimed to clarify the long-term prognosis by stroke subtypes and to identify determinants for recurrence and death after a first-ever stroke. METHODS: We enrolled 1,732 consecutive patients (men/women = 1,134/598, mean age of 65 years) with a first-ever acute stroke who were admitted to our Stroke Care Unit during a period of 20 years. Stroke subtypes were classified as atherothrombotic brain infarction, lacunar infarction, cardioembolic infarction, other type of infarction, and brain hemorrhage. The prognosis was assessed by stroke subtypes. RESULTS: During the hospital stay (mean 61 days), 99 patients died: 73 died directly from stroke. A total of 198 patients had recurrent strokes, and 286 died within 3 years after the index stroke. The overall recurrence rate within the first year was 6.5%, which was different among stroke subtypes. Patients with cardioembolic infarction (9.0%) as well as other type of infarction (9.1%) had more recurrent strokes within the initial year compared with the other subtypes. A history of transient ischemic attack (relative risk = 1.38), atrial fibrillation (1.52), ischemic heart disease (1.40), and disability at discharge (2.64) were independent predictors for the recurrence and death within 3 years after the first-ever stroke. CONCLUSIONS: The recurrence rate was different among stroke subtypes within 1 year after the index stroke. Atrial fibrillation, ischemic heart disease, history of transient ischemic attack, and disability at discharge were important determinants for stroke recurrence and death.     

缺血性脑卒中亚型及其危险因素与脑白质变性的关系

目的探讨缺血性脑卒中亚型及其危险因素与脑白质变性(LA)的关系。方法对213例伴LA的缺血性脑卒中患者的LA程度进行分级(LA1、LA2、LA3),分析其与缺血性脑卒中亚型(短暂脑缺血发作、腔隙性脑梗死、动脉血栓形成和心源性脑梗死)及其危险因素(年龄、性别、高血压、糖尿病及冠心病等)的关系。结果213例伴LA的缺血性脑卒中患者中,LA2和LA3患者的年龄明显高于LA1患者(均P<0.05);腔隙性脑梗死患者LA3的发生率明显高于其他缺血性脑卒中亚型(均P<0.05);与LA程度明显相关的因素为年龄(OR 0.69,95%CI:0.49~0.97)和腔隙性脑梗死(OR 0.01,95%CI:0.00~0.33)(均P<0.05)。结论与LA相关的危险因素是高龄和腔隙性脑梗死;可能的机制为穿支动脉硬化和血压调节障碍影响脑白质血流供应,引起白质局部坏死、腔隙形成或弥漫性LA。     

Lacunar infarcts in patients aged 85 years and older

OBJECTIVES: To compare the occurrence of lacunar infarcts in the very elderly ( > or = 85 years of age) and in patients below 85. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data of 374 consecutive patients with lacunar infarcts were collected from a prospective hospital-based stroke registry in which 2000 patients are included. Distinctive clinical features of lacunar infarct in the very elderly were assessed by multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Lacunar infarcts were diagnosed in 39 (15%) of the 262 very elderly patients of our stroke registry. Lacunar infarcts in the very elderly accounted for 10.5% of all lacunes. There was no statistical difference in the occurrence of different lacunar syndromes between the very elderly patients and patients below 85. However, the very old group with lacunar infarct showed a significantly higher proportion of the female sex (56.4% vs 37.3%) and history of atrial fibrillation (28.2% vs 8.7%), chronic renal disease and pathologic condition and a significantly lower proportion of hypertension (61.5% vs 77.3%), diabetes (7.7%) vs 28.4%), ischemic heart disease, hypercholesterolemia, and absence of neurologic deficit at discharge from the hospital than patients below 85. After multivariate analysis only atrial fibrillation (OR = 3.77), female gender (OR =2.52), hypertension (OR = 0.35), and diabetes (OR = 0.16) were independent clinical factors for developing lacunar infarction in the very elderly. CONCLUSION: In the very elderly the higher occurrence of atrial fibrillation, the lower prevalence of hypertension and diabetes, and the greater focal neurological impairment suggest that the cardioembolic pathogenetic mechanisms may be more frequent than generally established for lacunar infarcts in stroke patients.     

Impact of female gender on prognosis in type 2 diabetic patients with ischemic stroke

This study assessed gender differences in diabetic patients with ischemic stroke with respect to vascular risk factors, clinical features and early outcome. Ischemic stroke was diagnosed in 261 diabetic women and 300 diabetic men of 2,446 ischemic stroke patients included in a prospective stroke registry over 17 years. Mean +/- SD age was 77.5 +/- 8.3 years in women and 71.8 +/- 9.7 years in men (p < 0.021). Risk factors for stroke including hypertension, atrial fibrillation, congestive heart failure and valvular heart disease were significantly more common in women. Cardioembolic infarction occurred in 29.5% of women and 15.3% of men (p < 0.001), and lacunar stroke in 40.3% of men and 29.9% of women (p < 0.006). In-hospital mortality was 14.9% in diabetic women, and 8.3% in diabetic men (p < 0.02). After multivariate analysis, congestive heart failure (OR = 4.59), frontal lobe involvement (OR = 2.67), hypertension (OR = 1.62) and age were independent variables for ischemic stroke in diabetic women. Diabetic women had a poor prognosis, which may be due to differences in age, comorbidity and stroke subtype distribution.     

Risk factors for early death in acute ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage: A prospective hospital-based study in Asia. Asian Acute Stroke Advisory Panel.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In Asia, there has been no international study to investigate the risk factors for early death in patients with ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage. METHODS: We conducted a prospective study of consecutive patients with acute stroke who were admitted to 36 participating hospitals in China, India, Indonesia, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. With the use of a simple identical data sheet, we recorded the demographics and cardiovascular risk factors of each patient. Early death was defined as death on discharge from the acute hospital. RESULTS: We enrolled 2403 patients with ischemic stroke and 783 patients with intracerebral hemorrhage. Among patients with ischemic stroke, previous use of antiplatelet drugs (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 0.53; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0. 30 to 0.95) and relatively young age group 56 to 75 years (OR 0.65; 95% CI 0.42 to 1.00) were protective factors; atrial fibrillation (OR 2.23; 95% CI 1.40 to 3.57), ischemic heart disease (OR 2.03; 95% CI 1.37 to 3.05), diabetes (OR 1.52; 95% CI 1.04 to 2.22), and ex-smoker status (OR 2.18; 95% CI 1.18 to 4.05) were risk factors for early death. Among patients with intracerebral hemorrhage, hypertension (OR 0.56; 95% CI 0.38 to 0.82) and young age group 56 to 75 years old (OR 0.55; 95% CI 0.34 to 0.87) were associated with lower death rate, whereas diabetes (OR 1.74; 95% CI 1.01 to 2.98) was a risk factor for early death. CONCLUSIONS: In Asian patients with stroke, previous use of antiplatelet drugs nearly halved the risk of early death in patients with ischemic stroke, whereas atrial fibrillation, ischemic heart disease, diabetes, and ex-smoker status were risk factors for early death. Among patients with intracerebral hemorrhage, diabetes was associated with early death, whereas young age group and hypertension were associated with lower death rates, though no clear explanation for the hypertension association could be discerned from the data available.     

Risk factors and outcome of subtypes of ischemic stroke. Data from a multicenter multinational hospital-based registry. The European Community Stroke Project

BACKGROUND: Information on determinants and prognosis of ischemic stroke subtypes is scarce. We aimed at evaluating risk factors, pathogenesis, treatment and outcome of different ischemic stroke subtypes. METHODS: In a European Concerted Action involving seven countries, ischemic stroke subtypes defined according to the Oxfordshire Community Stroke Project (OCSP) were evaluated for demographics, baseline risk factors, resource use, 3-month survival, disability (Barthel Index) and handicap (Rankin Scale). RESULTS: During the 12-month study period, cerebral infarction was diagnosed in 2740 patients with first-in-a-lifetime stroke (mean age 70.5+/-12.4 years, 53.4% males). OCSP classification was achieved in 2472 (90.2%). Of these, 26.7% were total anterior circulation infarctions (TACI), 29.9% partial anterior circulation infarctions (PACI), 16.7% posterior circulation infarctions (POCI) and 26.7% lacunar infarctions (LACI). In multivariate analysis, atrial fibrillation was predictive of TACI (odds ratio [OR], 1.61; 95% CI, 1.28-2.03), hypertension (OR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.16-1.65) and myocardial infarction (OR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.08-1.86) predictive of PACI, hypertension (OR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.04-1.50) predictive of LACI. A negative association was observed between TACI and hypertension (OR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.42-0.61). Discharge home was 50% less probable in TACI and PACI than in LACI patients. As compared to LACI, TACI significantly increased the risk of 3-month death (OR, 5.73; 95% CI, 3.91-8.41), disability (OR, 3.27; 95% CI, 2.30-4.66) and handicap (OR, 2.71; 95% CI, 1.91-3.85). CONCLUSIONS: Ischemic stroke subtypes have different risk factors profile, with consequences on pathogenesis and prognosis. Information on determinants of the clinical syndromes may impact on prevention and acute-phase interventions.     

首发缺血性卒中患者无症状性腔隙性梗死严重程度的相关因素分析

目的 分析与无症状性腔隙性梗死严重程度相关的危险因素,并评价无症状性腔隙性梗死与缺血 性卒中病因亚型的相关性。 方法 连续选取791例7天以内首次发病的非心源性缺血性卒中患者。收集患者的人口学信息和血管 病的危险因素,评价患者的头颅磁共振成像包括无症状性腔隙性梗死的数量、脑白质疏松的严重程 度、缺血性卒中的病因亚型以及急性梗死灶的分布特征,并通过多元Logistic回归分析其与无症状性 腔隙性梗死相关的危险因素。 结果 296例患者（37.4%）伴无症状性腔隙性梗死。单因素分析发现：高龄、高血压、入院时血压 较高、糖尿病、脑出血病史、Fazekas评分≥3分、小动脉闭塞性卒中、单发梗死灶、无小的皮层梗死灶、 无分水岭梗死和流域性梗死与无症状性腔隙性梗死患病相关。多元Logistic回归发现：男性、高血压、 较高的舒张压、糖尿病、脑出血病史、Fazekas评分≥3分、小动脉闭塞性卒中是无症状性腔隙性梗死 患病的危险因素。 结论 首发非心源性缺血性卒中患者无症状性腔隙性梗死的患病率较高。伴无症状性腔隙性梗死 的首发非心源性缺血性卒中患者常有较重的脑白质疏松,并且所患缺血性卒中以小动脉闭塞性卒中 常见。     

Atherothrombotic ischemic stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation

OBJECTIVES: About one in five patients with atrial fibrillation have significant carotid artery disease, but not all strokes are cardioembolic in origin in these patients. PURPOSE: We investigated stroke sub-types based mainly on clinical, carotid ultrasonographic, and neuroimaging findings in ischemic stroke patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The etiology of stroke was classified as definite or probable cardioembolic, possible lacunar, or possible atherothrombotic, as proposed by Hart et al. and the TOAST criteria. Clinical features and risk factors (gender, age, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, cigarette smoking, and alcohol consumption) were designated as clinical variables. RESULTS: One hundred and six of 1938 patients (5.5%) had NVAF. In patients with and without NVAF, hyperlipidemia was more common in patients without NVAF (p<0.001), while the prevalence of other risk factors was not statistically different. On the basis of the TOAST criteria, none of the patients with NVAF could be classified as having had an atherothrombotic stroke. According to the classification by Hart et al., of the patients with NVAF, 49 patients (46.3%) had a definite embolic stroke, 17 (16.0%) had a probable embolic stroke, 12 (11.3%) had a possible atherothrombotic stroke, 17 (16.0%) had a possible lacunar infarction, and 11 (10.4%) had a stroke of undetermined etiology. Besides the presence of significant carotid stenosis (p<0.001), none of the variables related to stroke were different among the sub-groups. CONCLUSION: Patients with significant carotid stenosis were more likely to develop atherothrombotic stroke, while other risk factors associated with stroke failed to point to an etiologic cause. It should also be emphasized that the conventional classification system failed to aid in the correct diagnosis and risk stratification in patients with multiple confounding risk factors.     

Clinical determinants of dememtia related to stroke

Among 251 patients examined 3 months after the onset of acute ischemic stroke, we diagnosed dementia in 66(26.3%) by using modified DSM-III-R criteria based on neuropsychological, neurological, functional, and psychiatric examinations. We uses a logistic regression model to derive odds rations(ORs) for clinical factors independently related to dementia in this cross-sectional sample. Dementia was significantly associated with age, education, and race. A history of prior stroke (OR= 2.7) and diabetes mellitus (OR=2.6) was also independently related to dementia, but hypertension and cardiac disease were not. Stroke fearures associated with dementia included lacunar infarction compared with all other subtypes combined (OR=2.7) was also independently related to dementia, but hypertension and cardiac disease were not. Stroke features associated with dementia included lacunar infarction compared with all other subtypes combined (OR= 2.7) and hemisphetic laterality in relarion to brainstem or cerebellar location. There was a predominance of dementia in patients with left-sided lesions(Or-4.7), an effect not explained by aphasis. Dementia was especially common with infarctions in the left posterior cerebral and anterior cerebral artery territories. A major dominant hemispheral syndrome (reflecting size and laterality) was also independently associated with dementia (OR=3.9). We suggest that dementia after ischemic stroke is a result of multiple independent factors, including both small subcrtical and large cortical infarcts especially involving the left medial frontal and temporal regions, with additional contributions by demographic and vascular risk factors.     

Hypertension and neurovascular compression of the left lateral medulla oblongata in ischemic stroke

Hypertension is a major risk factor for stroke. Neurovascular compression (NC) of the left ventrolateral medulla oblongata may cause arterial hypertension. We evaluated the relationship between the two ischemic stroke patients. We classified 69 patients under 50 years old (49 men and 20 women, aged 43.6 +/- 7.3 years) based on magnetic resonance imaging findings as follows: NC patients (n = 38; 10 with NC on the right side, 18 with NC on the left side, and 10 with NC on both sides) and non-NC patients (n = 31). We compared the following clinical characteristics between the two groups: (1) risk factors for stroke, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, and smoking and (2) stroke subtype. Hypertension was more frequent in the NC group than in the non-NC group (58 vs. 19%, p = 0.001). Hypertension was more frequent in patients with left-side NC than in those with right-side NC (78 vs. 20%, p = 0.005). No other differences were observed between the two groups. Twelve patients presented with atherothrombotic stroke, 16 with cardioembolic stroke, 24 with lacunar stroke and 17 with stroke of miscellaneous etiology. NC was significantly more common in patients with lacunar stroke as compared with those affected by other stroke subtypes (p = 0.015). We found a significant relationship between hypertension and NC of the ventrolateral medulla oblongata on the left side in ischemic stroke patients younger than 50 years of age. Some patients with lacunar stroke may have hyptertension related to NC.     

Are hypertension or cardiac embolism likely causes of lacunar infarction?

We tested the hypothesis that hypertension is more common and cardiac embolism less common in patients with lacunar infarction than in patients with other types of cerebral infarction. We studied risk factor profiles in a series of 102 consecutive patients with a lacunar infarct and 202 consecutive patients with a carotid artery-distribution infarct involving the cortex registered in the Oxfordshire Community Stroke Project, a community-based study of first-ever stroke. The two groups did not differ in the prevalence of prestroke hypertension (defined in a number of ways) or in the prevalence of markers of sustained hypertension. The presence of atrial fibrillation and a history of myocardial infarction, particularly during the 6 weeks before the stroke, were significantly more common in the group with carotid-distribution infarcts involving the cortex. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of other accepted risk factors for ischemic stroke, including previous transient ischemic attack, cervical bruit, diabetes mellitus, peripheral vascular disease, or cigarette smoking. Our results suggest that hypertension is no more important in the development of lacunar infarction than it is in the development of other types of ischemic stroke that are presumed to be due to atherosclerotic thromboembolism in a major cerebral artery. Our data support the autopsy evidence that cardioembolic occlusion is an unusual cause of lacunar infarction.     

影响急性脑梗死出血性转化的危险因素

目的 探讨急性脑梗死的出血性转化的危险因素。方法 收集2012年1月～2015年1月在湖北省恩施州利川市人民医院神经内科住院的急性脑梗死患者的临床及实验室检查资料,并在入院后10 d内行头颅CT复查,采用多变量logistic回归分析确定出血性转化的独立危险因素。结果 共纳入345例急性脑梗死患者,其中男205例,女140例,101例发生出血性转化。出血性转化组的年龄、脑梗死体积、脑卒中史或TIA史、高血压病、糖尿病、抗凝药和房颤的比例均显著高于非出血性转化组(P<0.05),而2组抗血小板聚集药、他汀类、高脂血症史、吸烟或饮酒史无明显差异(P>0.05)。多变量logistic回归分析显示年龄(OR=1.168,95%,CI=1.059～3.412; P=0.021)、梗死体积(OR=3.461,95%C1=1.317～6.270; P=0.044)和房颤(OR=1.284,95%C1= 1.117～2.903; P=0.015)为出血性转化的独立危险因素。结论 急性脑梗死患者出血性转化的发生率为29.3%,年龄、脑梗死体积和房颤为出血性转化的独立危险因素,绝大多数出血性转化不会加重临床症状,临床症状加重的患者主要是脑实质血肿型。     

Clustering of risk factors increases the incidence of echolucent carotid plaque in stroke patients

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of clusters of risk factors on the incidence of echolucent carotid plaque in stroke patients. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 413 stroke patients who had undergone carotid ultrasonography was performed. High-resolution B-mode ultrasonography was used to evaluate the characteristics of carotid plaque. We investigated the relationships between the incidence of echolucent carotid plaque and clustering of risk factors (hypertension, diabetes mellitus and hyperlipidemia) and stroke subtypes and transient ischemic attack (TIA). RESULTS: Echolucent plaques were present in 10.5% of patients free of risk factors, in 18.8% with a single risk factor (NS), in 27.7% with two risk factors (p <0.01) and in 50.0% with three risk factors (p <0.001), and were significantly more common in patients with multiple risk factors (odds ratio 1.79; 95% CI, 1.05-3.06; p = 0.045). Echolucent plaques were observed in 41.2% of patients with atherothrombotic infarction, in 17.6% with lacunar infarction, in 11.5% with cardioembolic stroke, and in 25.0% with TIA, and were significantly more common in patients with atherothrombotic infarction than in those with lacunar infarction or cardioembolic stroke (p<0.001), or in those with TIA (p <0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The clustering of risk factors increased the incidence of echolucent carotid plaque. Patients with multiple risk factors were at increased risk of echolucent plaque, and these had a significant relationship with atherothrombotic infarction compared with other stroke subtypes and TIA.     

Stroke recurrence within the first year following cerebral infarction--Tottori University Lacunar Infarction Prognosis Study (TULIPS)

OBJECTIVES: To identify determinants of recurrence after ischemic stroke in the Japanese population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We enrolled 885 patients with acute ischemic stroke that had been admitted to our community hospitals. A total of 831 cases were followed for 1 year after the index stroke. Patients were assigned to one of the ischemic stroke subtype groups based on the NINDS Stroke Data Bank criteria. RESULTS: Rates of stroke recurrence were significantly different among stroke subtype groups: 14.4% in cardioembolic infarction, 7.3% in atherothrombotic infarction (ATI), 6.2% in lacunar infarction (LI) and 7.8% in infarction of uncertain cause. Previous history of stroke was the predictor of stroke recurrence for the groups of ATI and LI patients, and diabetes mellitus was the predictor of recurrence for the group of LI patients. CONCLUSION: The rate of recurrence and risk factors for stroke recurrence are different by stroke subtypes.     

急性缺血性脑卒中CISS分型与危险因素相关性分析

目的探讨急性缺血性卒中中国缺血性卒中亚型（CISS）分型与不同危险因素的关系。方法回顾性分析连续登记的急性缺血性脑梗死患者,记录其危险因素,并按CISS分型标准将急性缺血性卒中分为5种类型并分析相关因素对其发生风险的影响。结果在纳入标准的212例急性缺血性卒中患者中,大动脉粥样硬化型99例（46.7%）、心源性卒中型35例（16.5%）、穿支动脉疾病45例（21.2%）、其他病因型5例（2.4%）、病因不确定型28例（13.2%）。吸烟者、高血压病、冠心病、心房颤动者在5亚型间比例差异具有统计学意义（P〈0.05）。相关和回归分析显示冠心病、心房颤动与心源性卒中亚型有正相关性（β=1.34、2.206,P〈0.05）,高血压病与穿支动脉疾病亚型有相关性,为正相关性（β=1.074,P〈0.05）。结论不同类型缺血性脑卒中与不同的危险因素有关,心房颤动、冠心病是心源性卒中亚型的危险因素,高血压病是穿支动脉疾病亚型的危险因素。     

Genetically Predicted Cardiac Troponin I Concentrations and Risk of Stroke and Atrial Fibrillation

ObjectivesObservational studies have shown that elevated circulating cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentrations were linked to higher risk of stroke and atrial fibrillation, but the causality remains unclear. Therefore, we used mendelian randomization to assess the potential causal effects of cTnI concentrations on the risk of stroke, its subtypes and atrial fibrillation.Materials and methodsThe instrumental variables for circulating cTnI concentrations were selected from a genome-wide association study meta-analysis of 48,115 European individuals. We examined the associations of circulating cTnI concentrations with stroke, ischemic stroke, ischemic stroke subtypes (cardioembolic, large artery, small vessel stroke), intracerebral hemorrhage and atrial fibrillation.ResultsGenetically predicted elevated circulating cTnI concentrations were associated with higher risk of cardioembolic stroke (odds ratio [OR], 1.80; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.20–2.68; P = 0.004), but not associated with large artery stroke, small vessel stroke, total stroke, ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage. Additionally, we also found that elevated cTnI concentrations were causally linked to higher risk of atrial fibrillation (OR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.10–1.53; P = 0.003).ConclusionsThis study provides evidence that genetically predicted circulating cTnI concentrations are causally linked to higher risk of cardioembolic stroke and atrial fibrillation.     

Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Cerebral Microbleeds in Egyptian Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke and Atrial Fibrillation

BackgroundFew studies addressed the prevalence of cerebral microbleeds (CMB) and associated risk factor profile in Egyptian ischemic cerebral stroke patients with atrial fibrillation (AF).MethodsThe prevalence of CMB was estimated in 150 cases of AF ischemic stroke patients and compared to the prevalence in 150 age- and sex-matched controls of ischemic stroke patients without AF. CMB-associated risk factors were identified by comparing AF ischemic stroke patients with and without CMB. All participants were subjected to complete general, neurological examination, and magnetic resonance imaging.ResultsThe prevalence of CMBs in ischemic stroke with and without AF was 40.7% and 49.3%, respectively. Age, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, past history of stroke, antiplatelet, anticoagulant, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, CHA₂DS₂VASc, and white matter lesions (WML) were significant risk factors associated with CMB on univariate analysis. On multivariable logistic regression analysis, age (odds ratio [OR] 1.1, confidence interval [CI] 1.02-1.13), hypertension (OR 3.2, CI 1.19-8.81), anticoagulant (OR 3.3, CI 1.17-9.40), and WML (OR 9.6, CI 3.49-26.3) were the only independent risk factors associated with the presence of CMBs.ConclusionsAF in ischemic stroke patients was not associated with higher prevalence of CMBs. Old age, hypertension, anticoagulant treatment, and WML were the independent risk factors associated with CMB in AF ischemic stroke patients. Our results suggest that elderly hypertensive AF ischemic stroke patients maintained on anticoagulant therapy should be screened for the incidence of CMBs and monitored regularly for the development of intracerebral hemorrhage.