Evolution of cerebral arteriopathies in childhood arterial ischemic stroke

OBJECTIVE: To investigate evolution of cerebral arteriopathy in children with arterial ischemic stroke (AIS) and its influence on recurrence. METHODS: Arteriopathy severity was graded on serial magnetic resonance angiograms from 50 children with first AIS; diagnostic categories were assigned. RESULTS: Arteriopathy affected 72 arteries in 43 of 50 children. Five had clinical recurrence, with reinfarction in four; another had clinically silent reinfarction. Twelve children (24%; 4 with recurrence) had progressive arteriopathy. Arteriopathy improved in 24 patients (including 1 with recurrent transient ischemic attacks) and was stable in 7 patients. Magnetic resonance angiograms remained normal in seven patients; one had recurrent stroke. Diagnoses were transient cerebral arteriopathy (n = 24), chronic cerebral arteriopathy (n = 11), arterial dissection (n = 3), possible moyamoya (n = 2), primary moyamoya (n = 1), dysplastic arteriopathy (n = 1), and cerebral vasculitis (n = 1). Some of the first two categories could represent thromboembolic arterial occlusion with recanalization. The hazard of recurrence was three times higher when arterial disease had progressed (Cox regression hazard ratio, 3.2; 95% confidence intervals, 0.5-20.3; p = 0.22). After adjustment for age and number of AIS risk factors, the hazard ratio was 3.1 (95% confidence interval, 0.4-22.2; p = 0.27). INTERPRETATION: Arteriopathy frequently progresses after childhood AIS. Further studies are needed to examine the relationship between progressive arteriopathy and recurrence.     

缺血性卒中患者脑微出血的相关因素分析

目的 探讨缺血性卒中患者发牛脑微出血(CMBs)的相关因素. 方法 对85例急性缺血性卒中患者进行磁共振检查,其中包括梯度回波T2加权成像(GE-T2~*WI),并对患者的临床资料和影像学特点进行分析. 结果 26例(30.6%)患者中共检出CMBs 124个,每位患者的CMBs数目在1～16个之间.CMBs在基底节丘脑区和皮质一皮质下区分布较多,在幕下区较少见.发生在脑十的CMBs可有相关症状及体征.CMBs数目与年龄、腔隙性梗死数目及白质疏松程度评分有相关性(r=0.243,P=0.025;r=337,P=0.002;r=0.438,P=0.000).CMBs在GE-T2~*WI上显影良好,部分CMBs可在自旋叫波(SE)T2WI及DWI序列上显影. 结论 CMBs是脑微小血管病变标志,主要预测因素有高龄、多发腔隙性梗塞和白质疏松.     

急性缺血性脑卒中患者血管僵硬度与脑白质病变的关系研究

目的探讨急性缺血性脑卒中患者血管僵硬度与脑白质病变(WMLs)的关系。方法采集105例急性缺血性脑卒中患者的临床资料。对患者进行头颅MRI及血管僵硬度检查,测定双侧踝-臂脉搏波传导速度(ba PWV)及踝-肱指数(ABI)等。采用Fazekas量表评分判断WMLs严重程度并分为无或轻度WMLs组和重度WMLs组。对结果进行分析。结果本组105例患者中,无或轻度WMLs组63例(60%)、重度WMLs组42例(40%)。重度WMLs组高血压病的比例和年龄、收缩压、舒张压均明显高于无或轻度WMLs组(P0.05~0.01)。重度WMLs组ba PWV[(2002±340)cm/s]明显高于无或轻度WMLs组[(1826±328)cm/s](P=0.004)。两组ABI比较差异无统计学意义(P=0.84)。多因素Logistic回归分析显示,年龄(OR=1.06,95%CI:1.01~1.12,P=0.021)和ba PWV(OR=1.32,95%CI:1.07~1.55,P=0.002)是急性缺血性脑卒中患者发生重度WMLs的独立危险因素。结论急性缺血性脑卒中患者血管僵硬度与WMLs密切相关,且ba PWV是其伴发重度WMLs的独立危险因素。     

Management of arterial hypertension in patients with acute ischemic stroke

PURPOSE: We aimed with study to assess the current clinical practice about the management of high blood pressure in patients in the acute phase of ischemic stroke. We also comment some topics of ischemic stroke treatment. METHODS: A case report of a patient admitted 8 hours after onset of ischemic stroke and with blood pressure of 186 x 110 mmHg was presented to 120 surgeons and clinician. They were asked to decide the best therapeutic option: to increase, decrease or maintenance blood pressure. RESULTS: Thirty-eight physicians (31.7%) considered decreasing blood pressure the best therapeutics, 82 (68.3%) considered maintenance and none decided to increase it (p < 0.05). There was no difference between the two specialties conduct. The physicians, with more than 10 years of graduation, had a tendency to decrease the blood pressure (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The maintenance of blood pressure may present a sufficient blood support to compensate brain flow. A high percentage of the physicians (31.7%) do not know about the current concepts of therapeutics considering hypertension in acute ischemic stroke. The development on special units to treat these patients ("stroke units") may eventually decrease the morbimortality rates of ischemic stroke.     

Rate of arterial occlusion in patients with acute ischemic stroke

OBJECTIVE: Computed tomographic angiography (CTA) was invented more than 20 years ago, but only gained acceptance recently, thanks to advancements in the computer technology. It can demonstrate areas of arterial stenosis or occlusion with accuracy nearly that of digital subtraction angiography (DSA). It is also able to clearly illustrate calcification, which is more difficult to define on magnetic resonance angiography and is not clearly depicted on DSA. METHODS: Our retrospective study attempted to clarify the rate of occlusion or stenosis in the patients with acute ischemic stroke. RESULTS: Over the period of 7 months, 93 consecutive patients were admitted with acute ischemic stroke. Fifty-six patients underwent CTA and were included in this study. Most of the patients were admitted after 6 hours following onset of symptoms. There were 28 men and 28 women, and 80.4% of the cohort was of African-American origin. The majority of strokes were attributed to small-vessel disease (25/56). The rest of the cases were deemed secondary to atheroembolism (15/56), cardioembolism (9/56) or of unclear etiology (7/56). In 24 (42.9%) patients, CTA failed to reveal any abnormalities of the cerebrovascular tree. CTA demonstrated arterial occlusion in ten (17.9%) patients and stenosis of extracranial or intracranial arteries on the symptomatic side in 22 (39.2%) patients. There was very good correlation between CTA and ultrasound techniques (carotid duplex and transcranial Doppler). CTA was superior in demonstrating distal intracranial stenosis. CONCLUSION: Overall, CTA is an extremely valuable and fast way to emergently evaluate the cerebrovascular anatomy, making it very useful for pre-thrombolysis evaluation of patients with ischemic stroke.     

Association of cerebral palsy with other disabilities in children with perinatal arterial ischemic stroke

The association of cerebral palsy with other disabilities in children with perinatal stroke has not been well-studied. We examined this association in 111 children with perinatal stroke: 67 with neonatal presentation, and 44 with delayed presentation. Seventy-six children (68%) had cerebral palsy, which was hemiplegic in 66 and tri- or quadriplegic in 10. Fifty-five (72%) children with cerebral palsy had at least one other disability: 45 (59%) had a cognitive/speech impairment (moderate-severe in 20), and 36 (47%) had epilepsy (moderate-severe in 11). In children with neonatal presentation, cerebral palsy was associated with epilepsy (P = 0.0076) and cognitive impairment (P = 0.0001). These associations could not be tested in children with delayed presentation because almost all children in this group had cerebral palsy. In another analysis with multivariate logistic regression for children with cerebral palsy, children who had both neonatal presentation and history of cesarean-section delivery were more likely to have epilepsy (P = 0.001). Children with cerebral palsy after perinatal stroke who had neonatal presentation were more likely to have severe cognitive impairment (odds ratio, 7.78; 95% confidence interval, 1.80-47.32) or severe epilepsy (odds ratio, 6.64; 95% confidence interval, 1.21-69.21) than children with delayed presentation. Children with cerebral palsy after perinatal stroke are likely to have an additional disability; those with neonatal presentation are more likely to have a severe disability.     

缺血性脑卒中合并脑微出血的危险因素

目的研究缺血性脑卒中患者脑微出血的临床、影像学及血清生物学的危险因素,以及不同部位微出血与危险因素之间的关系。方法回顾性分析纳入153例缺血性脑卒中患者,应用磁敏感成像(susceptibility weighted imaging,SWI)技术检测脑微出血,计数并记录其部位。颅脑MRI的脑白质病变的严重程度采用Fazekas评分进行评估。应用Logistic回归分析法研究缺血性脑卒中合并脑微出血的危险因素,并研究危险因素与不同部位脑微出血数量的关系。结果 59例(38.6%)患者存在CMBs。皮层-皮层下CMBs出现率为34.0%,深部CMBs为24.8%,幕下CMBs为27.5%。多因素Logistic回归显示,男性、高血压病及中重度深部脑白质病变是伴有CMBs的有显著统计学意义的相关因素(P0.05)。校正年龄及性别后,偏相关分析显示,高血压病仅与深部CMBs的数量仍然显著相关(r=0.174,P=0.032)。中重度深部脑白质病变与皮层-皮层下CMBs及深部CMBs数量存在显著相关(r=0.285,P0.001,r=0.258,P=0.001)。结论男性、高血压病及中重度深部白质病变为脑微出血的危险因素;高血压病主要与与脑深部微出血的数量相关,而中重度深部脑白质病变与脑皮层-皮层下及深部微出血数量相关。     

Intracranial dissection mimicking transient cerebral arteriopathy in childhood arterial ischemic stroke

Transient cerebral arteriopathy is a frequent cause of childhood arterial ischemic stroke. Differentiating this condition from intracranial carotid artery dissection is challenging but important for initial treatment. We describe 4 cases from the International Pediatric Stroke Study of intracranial carotid artery dissection, initially misdiagnosed as transient cerebral arteriopathy. Presentations were abrupt, with focal neurological deficits in 4, preceding headache in 3, and minor trauma in 1. Infarcts involved the anterior circulation, and magnetic resonance angiography showed unilateral arterial stenosis/occlusion. None had evidence of dissection. All received anticoagulation or thrombolysis. Three died from refractory intracranial hypertension. Intracranial carotid artery dissection was confirmed postmortem (n = 3) and on dedicated MR wall imaging showing intramural hematoma (n = 1). In differentiating transient cerebral arteriopathy from intracranial carotid artery dissection, routine magnetic resonance angiography is unreliable and adjunctive conventional angiography, gadolinium magnetic resonance angiography, or dedicated MRI wall imaging should be considered.     

缺血性卒中患者颅内动脉狭窄的相关危险因素分析

目的 探讨颅内动脉狭窄的狭窄程度、相关危险因素与缺血性脑卒中的关系,为缺血性卒中的防治提供重要依据.方法 90例缺血性卒中患者根据全DSA检查结果分为非狭窄组(狭窄<30%)与颅内动脉狭窄组(狭窄≥30%或闭塞),分析颅内动脉狭窄程度与年龄、性别、高血压、糖尿病、高脂血症、冠心病、家族史、总胆固醇(CHO)、三酰甘油(TG)、高密度脂蛋白胆同醇(HDL-C)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)、载脂蛋白 A1(ApoA1)、载脂蛋白B(ApoB)、血清脂蛋白(Lpa)等相关危险因素的关系.结果 (1)本组患者颅内动脉狭窄发生率为67.78%,发生率最高为大脑巾动脉,其次颈内动脉颅内段和椎基底动脉颅内段,发生率最低为大脑后动脉.(2)有高血压、糖尿病的缺血性卒中患者容易发生颅内动脉狭窄,其同归系数、OR值、P值分别为1.659、5.256、0.002,1.657、5.241、0.046.(3)颅内动脉狭窄组HDL-C含量[(0.99±0.30)mmol/L]比非狭窄组[(1.30±0.50)mmol/L]明显降低,差异有统计学意义(t=3.603,P=0.001).(4)年龄、性别、吸烟、既往卒中史、脑血管病家族史、TC、TG、LDL-C、ApoA1、ApoB、Lpa在两组间比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).结论 缺血性卒中患者颅内血管狭窄的主要危险因素有高血压、糖尿病,保护因素有HDL-C.     

经颅多普勒超声对缺血性脑卒中患者的诊断价值及临床意义

目的探讨在缺血性脑卒中患者诊断中应用经颅多普勒超声的价值和意义。方法运用随机数字表法从2015-06—2016-06来我院就诊的缺血性脑卒中患者中选取196例为实验组,选取同时期来我院健康体检的人员中120例为对照组,所有患者均接受经颅多普勒超声(TCD)检查,对比和分析经颅多普勒超声在缺血性脑卒中诊疗中的应用价值。结果实验组的血管异常率较对照组显著增加,2组血管异常率比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05);与大面积脑梗死患者相比,小面积脑梗死及腔隙性梗死患者血管异常率显著降低,比较差异具有统计学意义(P0.05),但小面积脑梗死和腔隙性梗死患者血管异常率比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论缺血性脑卒中患者通过经颅多普勒超声诊疗,有助于早期发现和评估病情,为治疗和评估预后提供参考价值,整个操作过程简单、方便,容易被患者接受,值得推广。     

Clinical, electroencephalographic and cerebral computerized-tomographic findings in patients with ischemic stroke

The clinical findings, EEG and CT examinations of the brain were compared at three time intervals in patients with ischaemic stroke. No evident correlation was found between the intensity of clinical signs, the intensity of EEG changes and the size of the ischaemic focus in the CT. It was observed that with increasing time interval after the onset of the disease the clinical state and EEG changes improved while the CT image was not changed or even became worse. In the observations a greater tendency clinical for improvement was found in the group of cases of lesions in the left parietal lobe than in those with lesions in the right parietal lobe. Another observation was that patients with ischaemic focus developing in brain with evidence of atrophy in CT had a much lower tendency for clinical improvement than those without brain atrophy.     

Thrombolysis in patients with acute ischemic stroke due to arterial extracranial dissection

Background and purpose: No data of randomized controlled trials investigating the effect of thrombolysis in patients with ischemic stroke caused by an extracranial dissection are available. Previous case series suggested that thrombolysis in this group of patients is safe and improves outcome, however publication bias may play a role. The purpose of the present study was to describe outcome of consecutive patients with ischemic stroke caused by an extracranial dissection treated with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA), derived from a well‐defined ischemic stroke cohort. Methods: All consecutive patients with a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or ischemic stroke admitted to the Academic Medical Center Amsterdam between January 1, 2007 and September 1, 2007 were prospectively registered. Cause of TIA/stroke, treatment, and 6‐months outcome were recorded. Results: During the study period 252 patients were evaluated with TIA or ischemic stroke. Eight patients (3%) had an extracranial dissection. Of the six rtPA treated patients, five had good clinical outcome and one patient died. The two patients who were not treated with rtPA, because of minor stroke, had good clinical outcome 6 months after index event. Discussion: Treatment with rtPA seems to be safe and feasible in ischemic stroke patients with an extracranial dissection.     

Two cases of spontaneous middle cerebral arterial dissection causing ischemic stroke

Spontaneous middle cerebral arterial dissection (MCAD) is a rare cause of ischemic stroke. We report two cases of isolated spontaneous MCAD causing ischemic stroke. MCAD should be considered when a young patient has a middle cerebral artery territory infarct with stenosis at the origin of the middle cerebral artery. We discuss noninvasive radiological techniques for the diagnosis of MCAD.     

Doppler ultrasound and clinical findings in patients with acute ischemic stroke treated with intravenous thrombolysis

The aim of this study was to assess cerebral hemodynamics in patients with acute ischemic stroke undergoing thrombolytic therapy and to assess the relationship between cerebral hemodynamics and outcome. Forty-one unselected patients admitted to hospital within 3 h received intravenous thrombolytic therapy and were examined by extracranial and transcranial Doppler ultrasound examinations. Their strokes were clinically graded with the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale. Outcome after 3 months was graded with the modified Rankin Scale. Amongst the 27 patients who had an additional ultrasound examination 24 h after treatment, favorable outcome was significantly more common amongst patients with recanalization than amongst those without (P < 0.004). Thirteen patients with middle cerebral artery occlusions were continuously monitored during thrombolysis and frequently up to 5 h after start of thrombolysis. Early recanalization occurred in nine (69%), at a median delay of 178 min (range 140-287) after stroke onset. All of these nine patients had a favorable outcome. Recanalization within 24 h was associated with favorable outcome. Subgroup analysis suggests that this effect is mostly related to early recanalization within the first 5 h after stroke. Transcranial Doppler may therefore help to identify those patients most probably to benefit from thrombolysis, especially in those patients with a higher potential risk of complications.     

大脑中动脉狭窄患者脑血管储备能力与缺血性卒中事件的随访研究

目的观察大脑中动脉(MCA)狭窄患者脑血管储备能力(CVR)与缺血性卒中发生的关系及其危险因素的随访研究。方法连续纳入2014年2月~2016年9月在广州医科大学附属第三医院荔湾医院神经内科门诊或住院就诊行经颅多普勒超声(TCD)检查者中发现MCA狭窄患者的临床资料及脑血管储备能力(CVR),并进行为期1 y的随访,观察患者发生缺血性卒中的情况。结果 (1)共纳入212例患者,其中31例(14.6%)在随访期间发生缺血性卒中(卒中组);(2)卒中组患者CVR为(12.6±4.8)%,明显低于非卒中组(19.3±4.5)%,两者差异有统计学意义(P0.05);(3)卒中组中MCA轻度、中度、重度狭窄者分别为6例(19.4%)、11例(35.5%)、14例(45.2%),与非卒中组比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05);(4)经Logistic回归分析显示CVR是缺血性卒中事件的独立危险因素。结论在MCA狭窄的患者中CVR高、狭窄程度低的缺血性卒中事件发生风险低,且CVR是缺血性卒中的独立危险因素。     

Pharmacology in childhood arterial ischemic stroke

In recent years, there has been increasing recognition of the impact of childhood stroke and interest in the role of drugs in the acute, chronic, and prophylactic management of this condition. Most treatment strategies are based on studies in adults with stroke, and the relative infrequency of stroke and the heterogeneity of etiologies in childhood compared with adults present significant challenges in study design for childhood stroke studies. The presence of thrombophilia has been associated with stroke in children, strengthening the concept that antithrombotic, antiplatelet, and even thrombolytic agents have a role in stroke treatment and prevention. There are several potential roles for drugs in the treatment of childhood stroke including hyperacute therapy, antithrombotic medication, antiplatelet medication, and disease-specific medications. Herein, we review the use and rationale of these medications in childhood arterial ischemic stroke.     

急性脑梗死患者伴脑微出血的相关危险因素分析

目的探讨急性脑梗死患者伴脑微出血(cerebral microbleeds,CMB)的相关危险因素。方法本研究采用单中心、前瞻性研究方法,连续收集2012年7月~2013年12月连续收治的急性脑梗死患者121例,根据有无CMB将患者分为有CMB组(51例)和无CMB组(70例),比较两组间一般临床资料、生化指标及影像学特点是否存在差异,并采用多因素逐步Logistic回归模型分析CMB发生的独立危险因素。结果与无CMB组比较,CMB组患者总胆固醇明显降低,同型半胱氨酸及糖化血红蛋白明显升高以及脑白质疏松程度评分两组间比较差异具有显著性(P<0.05)。Logistic回归分析显示,糖化血红蛋白、同型半胱氨酸及脑白质疏松程度评分是急性脑梗死患者CMB发生的独立危险因素。结论在急性脑梗死患者中,CMB的发生与糖化血红蛋白、同型半胱氨酸以及脑白质疏松程度相关。     

Evaluation of silent cerebral lesions in patients with first ischemic stroke attack

BackgroundWe aimed to evaluate the frequency of silent cerebral lesions (silent cerebral infarction (SCI) and leukoaraiosis (LA)) in first-ever ischemic stroke patients. We wanted to identify the risk factors related with silent cerebral lesions, and the impact of these lesions on the prognosis of patients.Materials and methodsA total of 114 (58 male/56 female) patients with first-ever ischemic stroke that underwent brain MRI were enrolled in this study. Clinical features, and laboratory results were compared in the patients with and without SCI. They were also compared with LA severity, and the risk factors were evaluated.ResultsSCI was detected in 90 patients and the most common location was periventricular white matter (PWM) (33%). High body mass index (BMI), hypertension (HT), and hyperlipidemia (HL) were associated with SCI (p = 0.023, 0.012, and 0.019). No associations were detected with LA (p > 0.05). The cholesterol (p = 0.011) and LDL (p = 0.009) levels of the multiple-SCI group were higher than those of the single-SCI group. Lower ejection fraction (EF) was associated with SCI and the severity of LA (p = 0.029 and 0.036). Hemoglobin and hematocrit values were low in advanced-periventricular white matter hyperintensity (adv-PWMH).The presence of SCI had no effects, on stroke recurrence, mortality, or prognosis. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that HL and the presence of adv-PWMH were independent risk factors for SCI.ConclusionWhile some parameters are associated with presence of SCI and LA, other parameters are related only with presence of LA. Different factors may play a role in development of SCI and LA. Studies on larger populations are needed for further evaluation of this issue.