Prior hospitalization for stroke, diabetes, myocardial infarction, and subsequent risk of unprovoked seizures

Purpose: To study diabetes, acute myocardial infarction, and stroke as risk factors for unprovoked seizures in a population‐based cohort with incident cases of epilepsy. Methods: In this nested case–control study, the cases were 933 patients with newly diagnosed unprovoked seizures from the Stockholm Incidence Registry of Epilepsy. Controls, in total 6,039—matched for gender, year of diagnosis, and catchment area—were randomly selected from the register of the Stockholm County population. A history of diabetes, myocardial infarction, and stroke preceding the date of onset of seizure was determined by search of the Swedish Hospital Discharge Registry. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated to assess the risk of developing unprovoked seizures after hospital admission for any of these diagnoses. Results: The age‐adjusted OR (95% confidence interval, 95% CI) for unprovoked seizures after a discharge diagnosis of diabetes was 1.9 (95% CI 1.4–2.8) and after acute myocardial infarction 1.7 (95% CI 1.0–2.9). The OR was 9.4 (95% CI 6.7–13.1) after cerebral infarction, 7.2 (95% CI 3.9–13.6) after intracerebral hemorrhage, 7.2 (95% CI 2.9–18.1) after subarachnoid hemorrhage, and 3.2 (95% CI 1.9–5.5) after transient ischemic attack. The population attributable risk percent (PAR%) was <2% for each of the diagnoses except for cerebral infarction, for which the PAR% was 9%. Taken together the studied diagnoses accounted for 15% of the incident cases of unprovoked seizures. Discussion: As previously known, the risk for unprovoked seizures and epilepsy after a cerebral infarction was highest the first year after the infarction. This risk remained substantial >7 years after a diagnosis of cerebral infarction.     

白质疏松对脑梗死患者认知功能的影响

目的探讨白质疏松对脑梗死患者认知功能的影响。方法采用MMSE量表评分追踪观察95例脑梗死患者，其中认知障碍组27例，无认知障碍组68例。结果经Logistic回归发现白质疏松（OR=3．444．95％CI=[1．137-10．425]）和脑梗死史（OR=3．254，95％CI=[1．180-8．975]）是认知障碍的独立危险因素。发病初期白质疏松组MMSE评分明显低于非白质疏松组，在发病1个月及3个月时的MMSE评分差值比较无显著差异，而在6个月及以后的评分中2组评分差值存在差异，白质疏松组的MMSE评分差值明显小于非白质疏松组，且白质疏松组MMSE评分下降。结论白质疏松和脑梗死史是脑梗死患者认知障碍的独立危险因素；白质疏松在脑梗死后会加重患者的认知障碍。     

Prognostic value of early epileptic seizures on mortality and functional disability in acute stroke: the Dijon Stroke Registry (1985–2010)

We aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of early epileptic seizures after stroke. All consecutive patients with a first-ever stroke were prospectively identified within the population of Dijon, France, thanks to a population-based registry, from 1985 to 2010. Early epileptic seizures were defined as seizures occurring within 14 days after stroke onset. Outcomes were 1-month and 1-year mortality, and severe functional handicap at discharge. Of the 4,411 stroke patients included, data about seizures were available in 4,358 (98.8, 53.5 % women, mean age, 74.1 ± 14.8 years). Among these patients, 134 (3.1 %) had early seizures. Stroke patients with early seizures differed from those without seizures, as there was a higher proportion of hemorrhagic stroke, higher blood glucose level at admission, smoking status, and more frequent impaired. Higher risks of 1-month and 1-year mortality in patients with early seizures (unadjusted HR 1.45, 95 % CI 1.00–2.10; HR = 1.59, 95 % CI 1.21–2.09, respectively) disappeared (HR 0.71, 95 % CI 0.49–1.08 and HR 0.85, 95 % CI 0.64–1.17) after adjustment for stroke severity and other confounding factors. Early seizures were associated with severe handicap in unadjusted analyses (OR 2.07, 95 % CI 1.46–2.95) but the association was no longer significant after multivariable adjustment (OR 1.12, 95 % CI 0.69–1.83). Early epileptic seizures were not associated with higher risks of mortality at 1 month and 1 year or with unfavorable functional outcome after acute stroke. The adverse effects of epileptic seizures may not be distinguishable from stroke severity, which is strongly related to epileptic seizures.     

Risk and predictors of early epileptic seizures in acute cerebral venous and sinus thrombosis

We assessed the risk and determined predictors of early epileptic seizures (ES) in patients with acute cerebral venous and sinus thrombosis (CVST). A prospective series of 194 consecutive patients with acute CVST admitted to neurological wards in two German university hospitals was analysed for frequency of ES and in-hospital mortality. Demographic, clinical and radiological characteristics during the acute stage were retrospectively analysed for significant association with ES in univariate and multivariate analyses. During the acute stage, 19 patients (9.8%) died. Early symptomatic seizures were found in 86 patients (44.3%). Status epilepticus occurred in 11 patients (12.8%) of whom four died. Amongst patients with epileptic seizures, mortality was three times higher in those with status than in those without (36.4% and 12%, respectively). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, motor deficit [odds ratio (OR) 5.8; 95% CI 2.98–11.42; P  < 0.001], intracranial haemorrhage (OR 2.8; 95% CI 1.46–5.56; P  = 0.002) and cortical vein thrombosis (OR 2.9; 95% CI 1.43–5.96; P  = 0.003) were independent predictors of early epileptic seizures. Status epilepticus was an important source of morbidity and early mortality in patients with CVST in this study. Patients with focal motor deficits, cortical vein thrombosis and intracranial haemorrhage carried the highest risk for ES. Prophylactic antiepileptic treatment may be an option for these patients.     

Characteristics of in-hospital onset ischemic stroke

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The aim of the present study was to clarify the clinical characteristics of in-hospital onset stroke. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analyzed 15,815 patients with acute brain infarction registered in the Japan Multicenter Stroke Investigators' Collaboration (J-MUSIC) registry. RESULTS: The in-hospital onset group included 694 (4.4%) patients and the out-of-hospital group included 15,121 (95.6%) patients. Atrial fibrillation (AF) was more common in the in-hospital onset group (34.6%) than in the out-of-hospital group (20.4%, p < 0.001). The admission NIHSS score (median, in-hospital 13 vs. out-of-hospital 5, p < 0.0001) and the mortality rate at discharge were higher in the in-hospital group than in the out-of-hospital group (in-hospital 19.2% vs. out-of-hospital 6.8%, p < 0.0001). On multivariate logistic regression analyses, female gender (OR 1.1, 95% CI 1.1-1.3), older age (OR 1.0, 95% CI 1.02-1.03), AF (OR 4.4, 95% CI 4.0-4.8), history of stroke (OR 1.3, 95% CI 1.2-1.4) and in-hospital stroke onset (OR 3.3, 95 %CI 2.7-3.9) were independent factors associated with severe stroke (NIHSS score > or =11), and older age (OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.02-1.04), the presence of AF (OR 1.21, 95% CI 1.0-1.5), in-hospital stroke onset (OR 1.01, 95% CI 1.01-1.02) and NIHSS score at initial evaluation (OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.14-1.17) were independent factors associated with death at discharge. Conclusion: In-hospital stroke onset was not uncommon. The neurological deficits in patients with in-hospital onset stroke were severer and the outcome was worse than in those with out-of-hospital stroke. Therefore, a strategy to reduce in-hospital stroke onset should be implemented.     

卒中后深静脉血栓形成调查及危险因素探讨

目的 调查卒中后急性期和随访期深静脉血栓形成(DVT)发生率,并探讨DVT发生的危险因素.方法 采用多中心、前瞻性研究设计.所有患者于发病后10～14 d进行双下肢静脉超声检查,出院后继续随访6个月.计算出卒中后急性期和随访期DVT发生率.通过比较卒中后并发DVT与卒中后无DVT的患者多种相关因素,筛选出卒中后DVT发生的危险因素.结果 卒中急性期DVT发生率为4.49%,其中有DVT症状者为51.6%,无症状者为48.4%;多因素Logistic分析显示:年龄(≥70岁,OR=1.63,95%CI 1.08～2.84)、卧床(OR=4.85,95%CI 2.65～9.68)、Wells评分≥2(OR=3.96,95%CI 1.86～7.86)、下肢NIHSS评分≥3分(OR=4.56,95%CI 2.07～8.85)、D-二聚体水平高(OR=3.45,95%CI 2.01～8.52)、Barthel指数(BI)评分低(OR=2.98,95%CI 1.52～6.47)、是否康复治疗(OR=1.82,95%CI 1.22～3.43)、是否抗凝治疗(OR=1.91,95%CI 1.34～4.92)是急性期卒中患者DVT发生的独立危险因素,其中康复治疗和抗凝治疗是保护因素;卒中随访期DVT发生率为1.51%,年龄(≥70岁,OR=1.82,95%CI 1.21～3.98)、出院后仍卧床(OR=5.12,95% CI 2.82～11.32)、出院时下肢NIHSS评分≥3分(OR=4.25,95%CI 2.11～7.87)、出院时BI评分低(OR=2.18,95%CI 1.18～6.23)、急性期有DVT(OR=3.81,95% CI 1.87～7.48)是随访期卒中患者DVT发生的独立危险因素.结论 卒中后DVT多发生于老年患者,48.4%DVT无症状,卒中患者发生DVT的独立危险因素多,对有上述危险因素卒中患者进行DVT监测和预防干预十分必要,康复治疗和抗凝治疗可能能降低DVT的发生.     

脑缺血相关的白质疏松对脑梗死预后的影响

目的 探讨脑白质疏松的危险因素及其对脑梗死预后的影响。方法 采用多组脑梗死相关量表评分追踪观察了138例脑梗死患者,其中白质疏松组78例,非白质疏松组60例。结果 经Logistic回归发现年龄[OR=1.043,95％CI=(1.008～1.080)]和高血压史[OR=1.289,95％CI=(1.003～1.6551)]是白质疏松的独立危险因素。白质疏松(OR=5.294,95％CI=1.451-19.318)和OCSP分型中的完全前循环梗塞(TACI)和后循环梗塞(POCI)类型(OR=14.489,95％CI=4.121～50.934)是影响意识障碍的独立危险因素。白质疏松组在卒中第6个月时的神经功能缺损程度评分差值明显小于非白质疏松组。在发病6个月以后,与非白质疏松组相比,白质疏松组的简式Fugl-Meyer运动评分差值明显变小。发病初白质疏松组的意识障碍不但重于非白质疏松组,且在发病3个月内其改善的程度也明显差于非白质疏松组。结论 白质疏松在发病早期对肢体功能的康复无影响,但会加重意识障碍并影响意识功能的恢复。而在发病6个月以后会延迟肢体功能的康复。白质疏松和OCSP分型中的TACI和POCI类型是影响意识障碍的独立危险因素。     

急性缺血性卒中患者认知功能障碍影响因素分析

目的 探讨急性缺血性卒中患者认知功能障碍的影响因素。 方法 选取急性缺血性卒中患者氧化应激水平临床观察研究（Study on Oxidative Stress in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke,SOS-Stroke）的3285例患者作为研究对象,采用简易智力状态检查量表 （mini-mental state examination,MMSE）测定患者认知功能,急性缺血性卒中患者认知功能障碍的影响 因素采用多因素Logistic回归进行分析。 结果 该研究人群中有869例（26.45%）患有认知功能障碍,患者的年龄、性别、居住地、教育程度、 运动情况、美国国立卫生研究院卒中量表（National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale,NIHSS）评分对 急性缺血性卒中后认知功能障碍的影响有统计学意义。高脂血症[比值比（odds ratio,OR）1.38,95% 可信区间（confidence interval,CI）1.01～1.89,P =0.043] 、女性（OR 1.30,95%CI 1.04～1.63,P =0.020）、 NIHSS评分高（OR 1.26,95%CI 1.24～1.30,P <0.001）、居住于农村（OR 1.25,95%CI 1.02～1.53, P =0.026）及高龄（OR 1.03,95%CI 1.02～1.04,P <0.001）是急性缺血性卒中患者认知功能障碍的危 险因素,高教育水平（OR 0.77,95%CI 0.63～0.92,P =0.015）和经常运动（OR 0.80,95%CI 0.66～0.97, P =0.020）是其保护因素。 结论 应综合考虑急性缺血性卒中患者认知功能障碍的影响因素。     

Migraine History: A Predictor of Negative Diffusion-Weighted Imaging in IV-tPA-Treated Stroke Mimics

Background: Migraine, seizures, and psychiatric disorders are frequently reported as “stroke mimics” in patients with negative diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) after IV-tPA. We sought to determine predictors of negative DWI in suspected stroke patients treated with IV-tPA. Method: A retrospective case-control study encompassing all acute stroke patients treated with IV-tPA (at our hospital or “dripped and shipped”) from January 2013 to December 2014 was con- ducted. A total of 275 patients were identified with 47 negative DWI cases and 228 positive DWI controls. Variables including demographic factors, stroke characteristics, and clinical comorbidities were analyzed for statistical significance. A multivariate logistic regression was performed (SPSS-24) to identify predictors of negative DWI. Results: Approximately 17% of patients had negative DWI after IV-tPA. Compared to controls, migraine history independently predicted negative DWI (odds ratio [OR] 5.0 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03-24.6, P = .046). Increasing age (OR .97 95% CI .94-.99, P = .02) and atrial fibrillation (OR .25 95% CI .08-.77, P = .01) predicted lower probability of negative DWI. Gender, admission NIHSS, treatment location, preadmission modified Rankin scale, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, symptom side, seizure history, and psychiatric history did not predict negative DWI status. Conclusions: In our study, roughly 1 in 6 patients treated with IV-tPA were later found to be stroke mimics with negative DWI. Despite a high proportion of suspected stroke mimics in our study, only preexisting migraine history independently predicted negative DWI status after IV-tPA treatment in suspected stroke patients.     

Acute seizures in acute ischemic stroke: does thrombolysis have a role to play?

Seizures appear at stroke presentation, during the acute phase or as a late complication of stroke. Thrombolysis has not been investigated as a risk factor despite its potential neurotoxic effect. We try to identify risk factors for seizures during the acute phase of ischemic stroke in a cohort including thrombolysed patients. We undertook a case–control study at a single stroke center using data from Acute Stroke Registry and Analyse of Lausanne (ASTRAL). Patients with seizure occurring during the first 7 days following stroke were retrospectively identified. Bi-variable and multivariable statistical analyses were applied to compare cases and randomly selected controls. We identified 28 patients experiencing from seizures in 2,327 acute ischemic strokes (1.2 %). All seizures occurred during the first 72 h. Cortical involvement, thrombolysis with rt-PA, arterial recanalization, and higher initial NIHSS were statistically associated with seizures in univariated analysis. Backward linear regression identified cortical involvement (OR 7.53, 95 % CI 1.6–35.2, p < 0.01) and thrombolysis (OR 4.6, 95 % CI 1.6–13.4, p = 0.01) as being independently associated with seizure occurrence. Overall, 3-month outcome measured by the modified Rankin scale (mRS) was comparable in both groups. In the subgroup of thrombolysed patients, outcome was significantly worse at 3 months in the seizure group with 9/12 (75 %) patients with mRS ≥3, compared to 6/18 (33.3 %) in the seizure-free group (p = 0.03). Acute seizures in acute ischemic stroke were relatively infrequent. Cortical involvement and thrombolysis with rt-PA are the principal risk factors. Seizures have a potential negative influence on clinical outcome in thrombolysed patients.     

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.     

Selective risk factors profiles and outcomes among patients with stroke and history of prior myocardial infarction. The European Community Stroke Project

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Previous myocardial infarction (MI) has been linked with poorer stroke outcome. Whether this depends on a greater stroke severity is still uncertain. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of previous MI on characteristics and outcome of stroke in a large hospital cohort of patients. METHODS: In a European Union Concerted Action, patients hospitalized for first-in-a-lifetime stroke were assessed for demographics, risk factors, clinical presentation, and 3-month survival and handicap. RESULTS: Out of 4190 study patients, 460 (11%) reported a history of MI. Compared with patients without previous MI, those with MI were significantly older, more often males, smokers, alcohol consumers, and with a more severe pre-stroke level of handicap. They had more frequently atrial fibrillation and a history of transient ischemic attack. The acute neurological state and the 28-day mortality did not differ between the two groups. At 3 months, death or severe handicap were more frequent in the MI group (28.3% vs. 21.7%, P=0.001; 74.8% vs. 65.8%, P=0.008). Controlling by logistic regression analysis for age, sex, vascular risk factors, comorbidities, prior to stroke therapy, pre-stroke level of handicap, and clinical acute phase variables, prior MI remained an independent predictor of 3-month death (OR 1.30; 95% CI, 1.02-1.66) and 3-month handicap (OR 1.46; 95% CI, 1.01-2.11). CONCLUSIONS: Previous MI has no impact on clinical severity of acute stroke, but significantly affects 3-month outcome in terms of handicap and mortality.     

非瓣膜心房纤颤相关性脑卒中患者早发性癫痫发作的发生率以及危险因素分析

目的探讨非瓣膜心房纤颤(房颤)相关性脑卒中患者早发性癫痫发作的发生率以及危险因素。方法对2008~2015年陕西省14家三级医院的病例资料进行多中心性、回顾性研究。依据卒中后1周是否出现癫痫发作,将患者分为早发性癫痫发作组和对照组,通过单因素和多因素Logistic回归分析筛选出影响非瓣膜房颤相关性脑卒中患者早发性癫痫发作的危险因素。结果共纳入1077例非瓣膜房颤相关性脑卒中病例,男540例,女537例,年龄34~94岁,中位数73岁。发生卒中后早发性癫痫发作共21例(1.95%)。多因素Logistic回归显示两组NIHSS评分(95%CI:1.642~9.701,P=0.002)、既往脑卒中病史(95%CI:2.631~15.593,P0.01)差异有统计学意义。ROC曲线分析显示,曲线下面积为0.762,灵敏度61.9%,特异度81.0%,预测准确率71.5%。结论严重的卒中神经功能缺损、既往脑卒中病史是非瓣膜房颤相关性脑卒中患者早发性癫痫发作的重要危险因素。     

Neurological deterioration in acute ischemic stroke: potential predictors and associated factors in the European cooperative acute stroke study (ECASS) I

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The present study was undertaken to identify potential predictors of and factors associated with early and late progression in acute stroke. We performed secondary analysis of the clinical, biochemical, and radiological data recorded in the acute phase of stroke patients enrolled in the European Cooperative Acute Stroke Study (ECASS) I. METHODS: Early progressing stroke (EPS) was diagnosed when there was a decrease of > or = 2 points in consciousness or motor power or a decrease of > or = 3 points in speech scores in the Scandinavian Neurological Stroke Scale from baseline to the 24-hour evaluation, and late progressing stroke (LPS) was diagnosed when 1 of these decreases occurred between the 24-hour evaluation and the evaluation at day 7. Using logistic regression analyses, we looked for baseline variables that predicted EPS and LPS and for factors measured after the early or late acute phase and associated with the 2 clinical courses. RESULTS: Of the 615 patients studied, 231 (37.5%) worsened during the first 24 hours after inclusion. The overall incidence of EPS was 37% in the placebo group and 38% in the recombinant tissue plasminogen activator group (P=0.68, Fisher's Exact Test). Focal hypodensity (odds ratio [OR], 1.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3 to 2.9) and hyperdensity of the middle cerebral artery sign (OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.1 to 3.1) on baseline computed tomography, longer delay until treatment (OR, 1.2; 95% CI, 1.1 to 1. 4) and history of coronary heart disease (OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.1 to 2. 8) and diabetes (OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.0 to 3.1) were independent prognostic factors for EPS. Extent of hypodensity >33% in the middle cerebral artery territory (OR, 2.5; 95% CI, 1.6 to 4.0) and brain swelling (OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.1 to 3.2) on CT at 24 hours but not hemorrhagic transformation of cerebral infarct nor decrease in systolic blood pressure within the first 24 hours after treatment were associated with EPS in multivariate analyses. LPS was observed in 20.3% of patients. Older age, a low neurological score, and brain swelling at admission independently predicted late worsening. CONCLUSION: In the setting of a multicenter trial, EPS and LPS are mainly related to computed tomographic signs of cerebral edema. Treatment with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator, hemorrhagic transformation, and moderate changes in systolic blood pressure did not influence the early clinical course.     

Seizures after stroke: a prospective multicenter study

BACKGROUND: Studies of seizures after stroke have largely been retrospective, with small patient numbers and limited statistical analysis. Much of the doctrine about seizures after stroke is not evidenced based. OBJECTIVE: To determine the incidence, outcome, and risk factors for seizures after stroke. DESIGN: International, multicenter, prospective, analytic inception cohort study conducted for 34 months. PATIENTS AND SETTING: There were 2021 consecutive patients with acute stroke admitted to university teaching hospitals with established stroke units. After exclusion of 124 patients with previous epilepsy or without computed tomographic diagnosis, 1897 were available for analysis. Mean follow-up was 9 months. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Occurrence of 1 or more seizures after stroke, stroke disability, and death after stroke. RESULTS: Seizures occurred in 168 (8.9%) of 1897 patients with stroke (28 [10.6%] of 265 with hemorrhagic and 140 [8.6%] of 1632 with ischemic stroke). On Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, patients with hemorrhagic stroke were at significantly greater risk of seizures (P =.002), with an almost 2-fold increase in risk of seizure after stroke (hazard ratio [HR], 1.85; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.26-2.73; P =.002). On multivariate analysis, risk factors for seizures after ischemic stroke were cortical location of infarction (HR, 2.09; 95% CI, 1. 19-3.68; P<.01) and stroke disability (HR, 2.10; 95% CI, 1.16-3.82; P<.02). The only risk factor for seizures after hemorrhagic stroke was cortical location (HR, 3.16; 95% CI, 1.35-7.40; P<.008). Recurrent seizures (epilepsy) occurred in 47 (2.5%) of 1897 patients. Late onset of the first seizure was an independent risk factor for epilepsy after ischemic stroke (HR, 12.37; 95% CI, 4.74-32.32; P<. 001) but not after hemorrhagic stroke. CONCLUSIONS: Seizures occur more commonly with hemorrhagic stroke than with ischemic stroke. Only a small minority later develop epilepsy. Patients with a disabling cortical infarct or a cortical hemorrhage are more likely to have seizures after stroke; those with late-onset seizures are at greater risk of epilepsy.     

Impact of Relative Blood Glucose Changes on Mortality Risk of Patient with Acute Ischemic Stroke and Treated with Mechanical Thrombectomy

Background and purpose: The impacts of stress hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia on mortality of acute ischemic stroke patients treated with mechanical thrombectomy (MT) are largely unclear. This study aimed to use stress hyperglycemia ratio (SHR) to evaluate the influence of pretreatment relative blood glucose changes on mortality risk after MT. Methods: The study retrospectively enrolled 321 acute ischemic stroke patients treated with MT. SHR was calculated as random blood glucose at admission divided by average blood glucose which estimated by glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Patients with HbAlc greater than or equal to 6.5% were considered to have background hyperglycemia, patients were tertiled according to their SHR. Binary logistic regression was used to analyze 90 days mortality between SHR categories. Results: Compared with the middle tertiles group (Q2) which the blood glucose is closet to baseline glycaemia, patients in the lowest tertiles group (Q1) and highest tertiles group (Q3) have a higher mortality risk (odds ratio [OR], 3.80; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.31-11.06) (OR, 3.18; 95% CI, 1.25-8.12), the differences is still significant after further adjusted for admission hyperglycemia (≥11.1 mmol/L). In patients without background hyperglycemia, the mortality risk is significantly higher in Q3 group (OR, 3.01; 95% CI, 1.06-8.53), no significant differences was found between three groups after adjusted for admission hyperglycemia (≥11.1 mmol/L). Conclusions: SHR identified acute ischemic stroke patients with relative hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia may have higher mortality risk after MT.     

Role of a stroke data bank in evaluating cerebral infarction subtypes: patterns and outcome of 1,776 consecutive patients from the Besançon stroke registry

The purpose of this study was to estimate the frequency of various risk factors, courses and outcome of infarct subtypes in a large hospital-based stroke registry. METHODS: From 1987 to 1994, 1,776 stroke patients with a first-ever infarction were included in the Besan?on Stroke Registry. All patients were evaluated by a standard protocol (risk factors, stroke onset, stroke courses, clinical characteristics, neuroimaging, Doppler ultrasonography and cardiac investigations). Outcome was evaluated at 30 days using the Rankin scale. RESULTS: There were 1,012 men (mean age 67.2 +/- 13.7 years) and 764 women (mean age 71.4 +/- 15.6 years). At least two neuroimaging examinations were performed in 81.4% (n = 1,446) of the patients and an infarct was visible in 80.9% (n = 1,436). The second neuroimaging examination (CT or MRI) was performed after 8.2 +/- 1.6 days. 85.4% of patients were admitted on the first day of the stroke: 28.3% within 3 h and 48.4% within 6 h. In addition, stroke severity was well correlated with the short time interval between stroke onset and admission. Past medical history of hypertension was the major risk factor occurring in 57.5% of all types of infarction. While diabetes was more frequently found in small deep infarct, atrial fibrillation and history of heart failure were found in anterior circulation infarcts. The distribution of clinical presentations was conventional. Hemorrhagic transformation was found in 14.9% of the patients, especially in MCA and PCA infarcts. In all patients, logistic regression analysis determined independent predictive factors for death: clinical deterioration at the 48th hour (OR 7.5, 95% CI 4.9-11.3), initial loss of consciousness (OR 3. 3, 95% CI 2.1-4.9), age (OR 1.05, 95% CI 1.03-1.06), complete motor deficit (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.7-3.8), history of heart failure (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.3-3.0), lacunar syndrome (OR 0.25, 95% CI 0.10-0.60) and regressive stroke onset (OR 0.24, 95% CI 0.10-0.52). However, the outcome was clearly correlated with the infarct location. The in-hospital mortality rate was lowest in patients with small deep infarct (2.9%) or border zone infarcts (3.4%) and the highest in patients with total middle cerebral artery infarct (47.4%) or multiple infarcts (27.6%). CONCLUSION: Our registry appears to be a useful tool to understand the course and outcome of a large group of nonselected patients with subtypes of infarction. It can also help to analyze the influence of specific stroke management in the different categories of stroke types.     

Risk Factors for Acute Heart Failure and Impact on In-Hospital Mortality after Stroke

Background: In the acute phase of stroke, some patients develop cardiac events. It could be fatal in their clinical courses. We aimed to investigate acute heart failure after stroke onset and stratify the patients by establishing a predictive model. Methods: This single-center, observational study included stroke patients diagnosed at the Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery from January 2013 to December 2014. Baseline characteristics and clinical findings on admission were analyzed for acute heart failure after stroke. We assessed risk factors using multivariable logistic regression, and set a risk score to evaluate the association with poor outcomes. Results: Of 532 stroke patients, 27 (5%) developed acute heart failure within the 7 days after admission. We identified 4 risk factors for acute heart failure after stroke: atrial fibrillation (odds ratio [OR], 5.9; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.5-14.0; P < .001), history of cardiac disease (OR, 3.6; 95% CI, 1.3-9.1; P = .01), Glasgow Coma Scale score ≤ 8 (OR, 4.5; 95% CI, 1.7-12.0; P = .003), and serum albumin < 35 g/L (OR, 3.4; 95% CI, 1.4-8.4; P = .008). Furthermore in-hospital mortality rate was higher (37% [n = 10/27] versus 9.9% [n = 50/505], P = .001) in patients with poststroke heart failure. Higher predictive scores were associated with increased mortality. Conclusions: Acute heart failure can develop in the early phase of stroke and lead to poor outcomes. It is foreseeable and preventable by stratifying and monitoring high-risk patients.     

Low-molecular-weight heparins and heparinoids in acute ischemic stroke : a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Low-molecular-weight heparins and heparinoids (LMWHs) are superior to unfractionated heparin in the prevention and treatment of venous thromboembolism and acute coronary syndromes. We performed a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to examine the safety and efficacy of LMWH in acute ischemic stroke. METHODS: Randomized, controlled, and nonconfounded trials of LMWH in acute ischemic stroke were identified from the Cochrane Library (version 2, 1999), previous systematic reviews, and a review of publication quality relating to acute stroke trials. The authors each independently extracted data by treatment group and assessed trial quality using Cochrane Collaboration criteria. RESULTS: Eleven completed RCTs involving 3048 patients were identified; data were available from 10 of these. Four trials explicitly excluded patients with presumed cardioembolic stroke. Treatment with LMWH was associated with significant reductions in prospectively identified deep vein thrombosis (OR 0.27, 95% CI 0.08 to 0.96) and symptomatic pulmonary embolism (OR 0.34, 95% CI 0.17 to 0.69) and with increased major extracranial hemorrhage (OR 2.17, 95% 1.10 to 4.28). Nonsignificant increases in end-of-treatment (OR 1.20, 95% CI 0.86 to 1.69) and end-of-trial (OR 1.05, 95% CI 0.83 to 1.32) case fatality and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (OR 1.77, 95% CI 0. 95 to 3.31) were observed. End-of-trial death and disability was nonsignificantly reduced (OR 0.87, 95% CI 0.72 to 1.06). CONCLUSIONS: ++LMWHs reduce venous thromboembolic events in patients with acute ischemic stroke and increase the risk of extracranial bleeding. A nonsignificant reduction in combined death and disability and nonsignificant increases in case fatality and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage were also observed. On the basis of the current evidence, LMWH should not be used in the routine management of patients with ischemic stroke.     

Should stroke victims routinely receive supplemental oxygen? A quasi-randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We sought to test the hypothesis that breathing 100% oxygen for the first 24 hours after an acute stroke would not reduce mortality, impairment, or disability. METHODS: Subjects admitted to the Central Hospital of Akershus, Norway, with stroke onset <24 hours before admittance were allocated to 2 groups by a quasi-randomized design using birth numbers. All patients with acute stroke admitted to hospital within 24 hours after a stroke were included and enrolled. Patients were allocated to a group that received supplemental oxygen treatment (100% atmospheres, 3 L/min) for 24 hours (n=292) or to the control group, which did not receive additional oxygen. Main outcome measures were 1-year survival, neurological impairment (Scandinavian Stroke Scale), and disability (Barthel Index) 7 months after stroke. RESULTS: One-year survival was 69% in the oxygen group and 73% in the control group (OR 0.82; 95% CI 0.57 to 1.19; P=0.30). Impairment scores and disability scores were comparable 7 months after stroke. Among patients with Scandinavian Stroke Scale (SSS) scores of >/=40, 82% in the oxygen group and 91% in the control group survived (OR 0. 45; 95% CI 0.23 to 0.90; P=0.023). For patients with SSS scores of <40, 53% in the oxygen group and 48% in the control group survived (OR 1.26; 95% CI 0.76 to 2.09; P=0.54). CONCLUSIONS: Supplemental oxygen should not routinely be given to nonhypoxic stroke victims with minor or moderate strokes. Further research is needed to give conclusive advice concerning oxygen supplementation for patients with severe strokes.