Association of ischemic lesion patterns on early diffusion-weighted imaging with TOAST stroke subtypes

BACKGROUND: Different topographic patterns in patients who experience an acute ischemic stroke may be related to specific stroke causes. OBJECTIVE: To determine if lesion patterns on early diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) are associated with stroke subtypes determined by the TOAST (Trial of ORG 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment) classification. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: General community hospital.Patients We studied 172 consecutive ischemic stroke patients with a symptomatic lesion on DWI performed within 24 hours of stroke onset. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Lesion patterns on DWI were classified into single lesions (corticosubcortical, cortical, subcortical > or =15 mm, or subcortical <15 mm), scattered lesions in one vascular territory (small scattered lesions or confluent with additional lesions), and multiple lesions in multiple vascular territories (in the unilateral anterior circulation, in the posterior circulation, in bilateral anterior circulations, or in anterior and posterior circulations). RESULTS: We found an overall significant relationship between DWI lesion patterns and TOAST stroke subtypes (P<.001). Corticosubcortical single lesions (P =.01), multiple lesions in anterior and posterior circulations (P =.03), and multiple lesions in multiple cerebral circulations (P =.008) were associated with cardioembolism. Multiple lesions in the unilateral anterior circulation (P =.04) and small scattered lesions in one vascular territory (P =.06) were related to large-artery atherosclerosis. Nearly half (11/23) of the patients with a single subcortical lesion that was 15 mm or larger were classified as having cryptogenic strokes (P =.001), although 9 of these patients had a classic lacunar syndrome without cortical hypoperfusion. CONCLUSIONS: Early DWI lesion patterns are associated with specific stroke causes. Conventional 15-mm criteria for lacunes, however, may underestimate the diagnosis of small-vessel occlusion with DWI.     

前循环急性多发脑梗死危险因素及病因分析

目的:了解前循环急性多发脑梗死(AMBI)发病危险因素及病因分析.方法:连续收入73例前循环AMBI患者为试验组,随机收集73例同期入院的前循环急性单发脑梗死(ASBI)患者为对照组.对可能影响AMBI发病的14个危险因素分别进行单因素分析及多元Logistic逐步回归分析.病因分型采用改良TOAST分型方法.结果:AMBI组与ASBI组相比,高血压病、糖尿病、心房颤动、吸烟、年龄及入院时收缩压等危险因素两组间差异有统计学意义.Logistic回归分析显示,年龄(OR=1.03,95%CI:1.01~1.13)、高血压(OR=2.78,95%CI:1.06~7.58)、心房颤动(OR=3.19,95%CI:1.13~9.07)为AMBI发病独立危险因素.与ASBI患者相比,48例一侧半球AMBI患者,动脉粥样硬化血栓形成是其主要病因(P=0.03); 25例双侧半球AMBI患者,心源性栓塞是其主要病因(P=0.01).结论:年龄,高血压病、心房颤动为AMBI发病独立危险因素.动脉粥样硬化血栓形成是一侧半球AMBI患者主要病因;心源性栓塞是双侧半球AMBI患者主要病因.     

急性后循环多发与单发脑梗死病因分析

目的 分析急性后循环多发与单发脑梗死的病因差异.方法 选择后循环急性脑梗死患者71例,根据磁共振弥散加权成像（DWI）病灶特点分为多发组和单发组,按TOAST分型标准对卒中病因进行分类.结果 28例多发脑梗死中大动脉粥样硬化性卒中19例,心源性栓塞4例,小动脉闭塞性卒中2例,其他原因所致缺血性脑卒中1例,不明原因的缺血性脑卒中2例;43例单发脑梗死中大动脉粥样硬化性卒中10例,心源性栓塞4例,小动脉闭塞性卒中25例,其他原因所致缺血性脑卒中2例,不明原因的缺血性脑卒中2例.多发组与单发组相比,多发组大动脉粥样硬化性卒中更常见（P=0.000）,单发组小动脉闭塞性卒中更常见（P=0.000）.结论 急性后循环多发脑梗死的主要病因是大动脉粥样硬化性卒中,单发脑梗死的主要病因是小动脉闭塞性卒中.     

Mechanism of multiple infarcts in multiple cerebral circulations on diffusion-weighted imaging

Acute multiple infarcts in multiple cerebral circulations (AMIMC) are thought to suggest the presence of cardioembolic sources or systemic hypercoagulopathy. However, the mechanism and the simultaneous occurrence of AMIMC are not well known. We reviewed 685 consecutive acute ischemic stroke patients who underwent diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) within 48 hours of onset. AMIMC was defined as multiple acute DWI lesions distributed in more than one cerebral circulation (i.e., 2 anterior and 1 posterior circulations). Signal intensities on apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps corresponding to acute DWI lesions were classified as 'low', 'iso-' or 'high' signals. Blood markers obtained within 24 hours after admission were compared between patients with and without AMIMC. Sixty-seven (9.8%) patients had AMIMC. Frequency of cardioembolism in AMIMC patients was only 29.9% (20/67), which was not different from non-AMIMC patients (21.7%, p = 0.16). Large-artery atherosclerosis (LAA) or small-vessel occlusion (SVO) in multiple circulations or combined LAA and SVO were identified in 34.3% (23/ 67) of AMIMC patients, although pure LAA and pure SVO were less frequent than in non-AMIMC patients. ADC signals were purely 'low' in 38 (56.7%) and 'mixed' (low with iso- or high) in 29 (43.3%). Cardioembolism tended to be associated with 'low' ADC signals (75.0%) compared with other stroke mechanisms (48.9%; p = 0.062). C-reactive protein was higher in AMIMC than in non- AMIMC patients (p = 0.009). Stroke mechanisms responsible for AMIMC are heterogeneous. ADC findings suggest that AMIMC commonly occur stepwise and may be useful in determining stroke mechanism. Systemic inflammation may be associated with the pathogenesis of AMIMC.     

前循环急性多发与单发脑梗死病因分析

目的分析前循环急性多发与单发脑梗死病因差异。方法纳入前循环急性脑梗死129例,根据磁共振弥散加权成像（DWI）病灶特点分为多发组和单发组,按TOAST分型标准对卒中病因进行分类。结果 69例多发脑梗死中大动脉粥样硬化性卒中44例,心源性栓塞13例,小动脉闭塞性卒中3例,其他原因所致的脑缺血性卒中4例,不明原因的脑缺血性卒中5例;60例单发脑梗死中大动脉粥样硬化性卒中16例,心源性栓塞5例,小动脉闭塞性卒中34例,其他原因所致的脑缺血性卒中2例,不明原因的脑缺血性卒中3例。多发组与单发组相比,多发组大动脉粥样硬化性卒中更常见（P=0.000）,单发组小动脉闭塞性卒中更常见（P=0.000）。结论前循环急性多发脑梗死的主要病因是大动脉粥样硬化性卒中,急性单发脑梗死的主要病因是小动脉闭塞性卒中。     

Multiple acute stroke syndrome: marker of embolic disease?

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency and etiologic significance of multiple acute ischemic lesions in stroke. BACKGROUND: Although patients may have more than one stroke during the course of their lives, acute ischemic stroke is usually thought of as a single event. Using diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), an MRI technique that detects ischemic injury within minutes after onset, we have often observed multiple acute ischemic lesions. Methods: The MRI scans of 59 consecutively studied patients were reviewed to determine the frequency and etiologic significance of multiple acute ischemic lesions on DWI. RESULTS: Multiple acute ischemic lesions were present in 10 (17%) of 59 patients. The lesions usually occurred within one major circulation (anterior or posterior), but in two patients (3%), lesions occurred in both cerebral hemispheres or in the anterior and the posterior circulations. The lesions often were small and resulted from presumed multiple emboli or the break-up of an embolus. Two patients had internal carotid artery occlusive disease and four had a cardiac or aortic source. In the other four patients the source was not determined. Lesions larger than 1 cm in diameter progressed to infarction, but some smaller lesions were not seen on follow-up T2-weighted imaging. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple acute stroke lesions on DWI are common and could be caused by multiple emboli or the breakup of an embolus. In some cases it might become possible to make early inferences concerning the stroke mechanism that could be of use for immediately directing the clinical work-up and treatment of the patient.     

Paradoxical brain embolism may not be uncommon-Prospective study in acute ischemic stroke

Abstract Background Proving that right-to-left shunt (RLS) represents the precise causative mechanism in ischemic stroke patients with RLS is difficult. The aim of this study was to examine the frequency and clarify the clinical characteristics of paradoxical brain embolism (PBE). Methods We prospectively enrolled consecutive acute ischemic stroke patients, who underwent transcranial Doppler and/or transesophageal echocardiography. For patients with RLS, diagnostic criteria for PBE were established as follows: 1) brain images suggesting embolic strokes; 2) presence of deep venous thrombus or pulmonary embolism; and 3) absence of any embolic sources. Patients were divided into 4 groups: patients meeting all 3 criteria (Definite); fulfilling 2 criteria (Probable); fulfilling 1 or 0 criteria (Possible); and patients without RLS (Non-RLS). Results A total of 240 subjects were analyzed for this study. The Definite group comprised 5% of patients, and displayed significantly more females (p = 0.038), and infarcts involving both anterior and posterior circulations (p < 0.001). Patients having neither hypertension nor diabetes mellitus also predominantly belonged to the Definite group (p < 0.001). Conclusions Clinical characteristics of PBE are a female preponderance, infarcts affecting both anterior and posterior circulations, and an absence of risk factors.     

D-dimer >2.785 μg/ml and multiple infarcts ≥3 vascular territories are two characteristics of identifying cancer-associated ischemic stroke patients

ABSTRACT

Background: The patterns and mechanisms underlying stroke in cancer patients differ from those of the conventional etiology. In this study, we further investigated the characteristics distinguishing cancer-associated ischemic stroke (CAIS) and the relationship of D-dimer value with CAIS.

Methods: Sixty-one acute ischemic stroke patients with cancer (cancer group) and 76 stroke patients without cancer (control group) were recruited. Cerebrovascular distribution was divided into 3 circulations and 23 vascular territories, and acute multiple brain infarcts (AMBIs) were defined as discrete MRI diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) lesions in >1 vascular territory.

Results: Cancer patients had higher average D-dimer and fibrinogen degradation product values, and fewer stroke risk factors. The numbers of infarct-affected vascular territories, AMBIs, and AMBIs in multiple circulations were significantly higher in the cancer group. Receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that the cutoff value of D-dimer was 2.785 μg/ml; and above features were particularly evident in cancer patients whose D-dimer values were >2.785 μg/ml, while those with D-dimer values ≤2.785 μg/ml were similar to controls.

Conclusions: D-dimer >2.785 μg/ml may be an effective cutoff value and a sensitive index for identifying CAIS patients. AMBIs in ≥3 vascular territories and AMBIs in both the anterior and posterior circulations are two imaging characteristics of CAIS.     

缺血性脑卒中的亚型分析

目的探讨我国缺血性脑卒中人群亚型和发病的症状学特征。方法对2002年7月～2003年2月因首发缺血性脑卒中于天坛医院住院治疗的300例患者进行MRI、MRA、DSA等影像学检查及其他病因学检查,依据牛津郡社区卒中计划(OCSP)分型法确定每例患者的所属亚型。结果本组患者OCSP分型各亚型的构成比为:腔隙性脑梗死占21．0%,完全前循环梗死21．0%,部分前循环梗死占36．3%,后循环梗死占21．7%。不同性别患者OCSP分型各亚型的分布间差别无显著性意义(P＞0．05)。结论本研究中部分前循环梗死亚型所占比例最高,不同性别患者各亚型的分布无差别。     

Spectrum of the posterior inferior cerebellar artery territory infarcts. Clinical-diffusion-weighted imaging correlates

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The clinical, etiological and stroke mechanisms are defined well before but the detailed clinical and etiologic mechanisms regarding to all clinical spectrum of posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) infarcts were not systematically studied by diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). METHODS: Seventy-four patients with PICA territory ischemic lesion proved by DWI with decreased apparent diffusion coefficient and FLAIR (fluid attenuation inversion recovery) included in our Registry, corresponding to 2% of 3,650 patients with ischemic stroke, were studied. The presence of steno-occlusive lesions in the posterior circulation were sought by magnetic resonance angiography, and reviewed with a three-dimensional rotating cineangiographic method. RESULTS: We found six subgroups of PICA territory infarcts according clinico-topographical relationship: (1) 9 patients with lesion in the territory lateral branch of PICA; (2) 23 patients with an infarct in the territory of medial branch of PICA; (3) 9 patients with a lesion involving both medial and lateral branches of the PICA; (4) 9 patients with cortical infarcts at the boundary zones either between medial and lateral branches of the PICA or between PICA and m/l superior cerebellar artery (SCA); (5) 10 patients with a lesion at the deep boundary zones either between medial and lateral PICA, or between PICA and medial/lateral SCA; (6)14 patients with concomitant multiple lesions in the PICA and in other vertebrobasilar artery territories. The main cause of PICA infarcts was extracranial large-artery disease in 30 patients (41%) patients, cardioembolism and in situ branch disease in 15 patients (20%) each. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple PICA territory lesions on DWI were not uncommon and could be caused by multiple emboli originating from break-up of atherosclerotic plaque in the subclavian/innominate-vertebral arterial system. DWI findings of single or multiple small lesions could account for some cases with transient and subtle cerebellar symptoms which have been considered before as 'vertebrobasilar insufficiency' without morphologic lesion. Different clinical-DWI correlations allow us to determine better definition of the topographical and etiological spectrum of acute PICA territory lesions, which was previously defined by pathological and conventional MRI studies.     

Lesion patterns and etiology of ischemia in the anterior inferior cerebellar artery territory involvement: a clinical – diffusion weighted – MRI study

The topography and mechanism of stroke in the anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) territory are delineated before, but the detailed clinical spectrum of lesions involving AICA territory was not studied by diffusion weighted imaging (DWI). We reviewed 1350 patients with posterior circulation ischemic stroke in our registry. We included patients if the diagnosis of AICA territory involvement was confirmed, and DWI, and magnetic resonance angiography were obtained in the 3 days of symptoms onset. The potential feeding arteries of the AICA territory were evaluated on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using a three-dimensional rotating cineoangiographic method. There were 23 consecutive patients with lesion involving AICA territory, six with isolated lesion in the AICA territory, six with posterior inferior cerebellar artery, 11 with multiple posterior circulation infarcts (MPCIs). The clinical feature of isolated AICA infarct was vertigo, tinnitus, dysmetria, ataxia, facial weakness, facial sensory deficits, lateral gaze palsy, and sensory-motor deficits in patients with pontine involvement. Patients with largest lesion extending to the anterior and inferolateral cerebellum showed mixed symptomatology of the lateral medullary (Wallenberg's syndrome) and AICA territory involvement. Patients with MPCIs presented various clinical pictures with consciousness disturbances and diverse clinical signs because of involvement of different anatomical structures. Large-artery atherosclerotic disease in the vertebrobasilar system was the main cause of stroke in 12 (52%) patients, cardioembolism (CE) in one (4%), and coexisting large-artery disease and a source of CE in four (17%). The main cause of stroke was atheromatous vertebrobasilar artery disease either in the distal vertebral or proximal basilar artery. The outcome was usually good except those with multiple lesions. The new MRI techniques and clinical correlations allow better definition of the diverse topographical and etiological spectrum of AICA territory involvement and associated infarcts which was previously based on pathological and conventional MRI studies.     

Diffusion weighted imaging,apparent diffusion coefficient maps and stroke etiology

OBJECTIVE : In acute ischemic stroke, the number and distribution of lesions on diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) have been shown to give clues to the underlying pathogenetic mechanisms. The objective of this study was to determine whether lesion features on DWI differ between stroke due to large artery atherosclerosis (LAA) and cardioembolism (CE), and to assess the role of apparent diffusion coefficient maps (ADC). METHODS : We retrospectively studied 83 consecutive patients with stroke caused by either LAA (n=40) or cardioembolism (n=43). DWI lesions were characterized by number, size, distribution (i. e. lesion pattern) and signal intensity on ADC maps. In part A, all hyperintense DWI lesions regardless of their ADC were compared. In part B, only hyperintense DWI lesions with hypointense appearance on ADC maps (i. e. acute lesions) were assessed. RESULTS : Part A: The frequency of multiple hyperintense DWI lesions (LAA: 28/40, CE: 21/43; p< 0.05) and the lesion number (LAA 4.7+/- 4.9; CE: 3.1+/- 4.7; p=0.01) were higher in LAA-patients. Involvement of >1 circulation (i. e. anterior plus posterior or bilateral anterior circulations) was present in 5 LAA-patients (13 %) and 4 CE-patients (9 %). Lesion size did not differ between LAA-stroke (35.1+/- 33.7 mm) and CE-stroke (35.4+/- 27.8 mm). Part B: Multiple hyperintense DWI lesions with low ADC occurred in 23/40 LAA-patients and in 15/43 CE-patients (p<0.05). Lesions in >1 circulation occurred only in CE-stroke (n=3; 7%) and never in LAA-stroke. CONCLUSIONS : (1) Multiple ischemic lesions occur significantly more often in LAA-stroke than in CE-stroke. (2) ADC maps are important in the comparison of DWI lesion patterns; DWI lesions in >1 circulation can only be assigned to a cardioembolic etiology if they appear hypointense on ADC maps.     

Stroke with internal carotid artery stenosis

BACKGROUND: Stroke patterns in patients with different degrees of carotid stenosis have not been systematically studied. OBJECTIVE: To determine first-ever stroke subtypes in nonselected patients with extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis, based on a primary care hospital stroke registry. METHODS: One hundred seventy-three patients who experienced their first-ever stroke and who had 50% or greater (North American Symptomatic Carotid Endarterectomy Trial method) ipsilateral extracranial ICA stenosis, corresponding to 6.5% of 2649 patients with anterior circulation stroke included in the Lausanne Stroke Registry, were studied. All these patients underwent Doppler ultrasonography, carotid angiography (conventional or magnetic resonance angiography), neuroimaging (computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging), and other investigations from the standard protocol of the Lausanne Stroke Registry. RESULTS: We found the following types of infarct in the middle cerebral artery territory: anterior pial in 54 (31%) of the patients; subcortical, 34 (20%); posterior pial, 32 (19%); large hemispheral, 20 (12%); and border zone, 17 (10%). There were multiple pial in 14 (8%) and multiple deep infarcts in 2 (1%) of the patients. Moderate (50%-69%) ICA stenosis was significantly associated with large hemispheral infarcts and a normal contralateral ICA (P =.04 and P =.02, respectively). Seventy percent to 89% of ICA stenosis was associated with prior transient ischemic attacks (P =.02). After adjusting for cardioembolism, border zone infarcts showed a strong trend to appear mostly in patients with 90% to 99% ICA stenosis (P =.06). CONCLUSIONS: The association of a large hemispheral infarct with moderate ICA stenosis suggests a large embolism and/or an inadequate collateral supply. While an embolism may also contribute, the association of border zone infarcts with 90% to 99% ICA stenosis emphasizes the significance of hemodynamic disturbance in the pathogenesis of these types of infarct.     

Neurovascular territory involved in different etiological subtypes of ischemic stroke in the Perugia Stroke Registry

We studied the correlation between the potential causes of stroke (TOAST etiological groups) and the involvement of different vascular territories seen on computed tomography (CT) scans in patients with ischemic stroke. Information from consecutive patients with a first-ever stroke have been prospectively coded and entered into a computerized data bank (Perugia Stroke Registry). A population of 1,719 patients were evaluated: 1,284 patients (74.7%) had ischemic stroke. Large artery disease was the main cause of entire middle cerebral artery (MCA) territory infarcts (40.9%), superficial MCA territory infarcts (35.7%), and watershed infarcts (68.2%). The highest presence of emboligenic heart disease was found in the entire MCA territory infarcts (28.8%) or superficial (29.4%) supratentorial infarcts and in cerebellar infarcts (36.8%). Small artery disease was the most common presumed cause of deep MCA infarcts (75.0%) and posterior cerebral artery (PCA) territory infarcts (52.1%). In conclusion: stroke location could depend on its etiology. Lacunar infarcts are the most prevalent (36.7%), being mostly localized in the deep MCA territory; large artery disease includes more than two-thirds of watershed infarcts; the most prevalent territories involved in cardioembolic stroke are the entire MCA and posterior fossa.     

Correlation between symptomatic, radiological and etiological diagnosis in acute ischemic stroke

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to correlate with the symptomatic, radiological and etiological diagnosis in acute ischemic stroke. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Two hundred and fifty patients with first-ever ischemic stroke within 24 h of onset were prospectively studied with 3-step diagnoses: 1) symptomatic diagnosis based on the Oxfordshire Community Stroke Project criteria (OCSP), 2) radiological diagnosis (CT or MRI) and 3) etiological diagnosis based on the Lausanne Stroke Registry criteria. RESULTS: Most of the patients with symptoms of total anterior circulation infarcts (TACI), partial anterior circulation infarcts (PACI) and posterior circulation infarcts (POCI) had corresponding lesions on CT or MRI, while only 68% of lacunar infarcts (LACI) patients had small subcortical infarction (SSI). More than 60% of patients with TACI were classified into cardioembolism in the third diagnosis, while the etiology of PACI was either CE or large-artery atherosclerosis (LAA) in equal numbers. Only 58% of LACI patients were classified into small-artery disease (SAD) and 29% of them (30 cases) into LAA, of which 23 patients had lesions other than SSI. The positive predictive value of SAD in the combination of LACI and SSI was 0.78. The etiology of POCI was variable. CONCLUSION: Except for LACI, the symptomatic classification by OCSP corresponds well to the radiological diagnosis. The etiological diagnosis can be predicted by OCSP in TACI and PACI, but it is hard in POCI, and a number of LACI are due to LAA.     

急性脑梗死症状学、影像学及病因学分类之间的关系研究

目的：探讨急性脑梗死症状学、影像学及病因学分类之间的关系。方法：对125例起病48小时内的急性脑梗死患者进行3步骤分类诊断，第一步为症状学分类：(1)完全前循环梗死(TACI)；(2)部分前循环梗死(PACI)；(3)腔隙性梗死(LACI)；(4)后循环梗死(POCI)。第二步为影像学分类：(1)前循环皮质梗死或纹状体内囊区梗死(C0)；(2)低灌流梗死(LFI)；(3)深穿技区的皮质下小梗死(SSI)；(4)除SSI以外的后循环梗死(PCI)；(5)无异常发现(N0)。第三步为病因学分类：(1)大动脉粥样硬化(LAA)；(2)心源性栓塞(CE)；(3)小动脉病(SAD)；(4)其它病因、病因不明或混合性病因。结果：在症状学分类诊断为TACI、PACI和POCI的患者中，CT或MRI所示病灶与其临床症状的对应性良好，但只有67．3％的LACI影像学分类为SSI。大多数TACI患者是由CE造成的。在PACI患者中，CE和LAA的数量相同。只有57．7％的LACI患者被划分为SAD，而28．8％被划分为LAA。用LACI和SSI来预测SAD的阳性预测率较高(78％)。POCI的病因诊断多种多样。结论：除LACI以外，症状学分类与影像学分类的对应性良好，用症状学分类可预测TACI和PACI患者的病因分类，但难以预测POCI患者的病因分类。不少的LACI是由LAA造成的。     

Transesophageal echocardiographic findings in patients with anterior and posterior circulation infarcts

Objectives - The aim of this study was to assess the role of transesophageal echocardiography in detecting the source of cerebral embolism in ischemic stroke patients and to evaluate the difference in occurrence of heart abnormalities in anterior and posterior circulation infarcts. Material and Methods - The study group included 104 patients, 51 males and 53 females with ischemic stroke without significant atherosclerosis in the carotid arteries. Age of the patients ranged from 14 to 82 years (mean 55). The clinical picture of stroke suggested the embolic etiology, 34 of them had atrial fibrillation. Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography were performed in all patients. All patients were separated as anterior or posterior circulation infarcts. The control group consisted of 100 patients aged from 14 to 73 years (mean 53) without stroke history. Results - Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) examination revealed left atrial thrombus in 12%, left atrial spontaneous contrast in 16%, interatrial communication in 31%, mitral valve prolapse in 20%, atrial septal aneurysm in 14%, ventricular thrombus in 6% and aortic atheromas of 5 mm or more in size in 7% of stroke patients. In the control group left atrial spontaneous contrast was found in 10%, interatrial communication in 17%, mitral valve prolapse in 4%, atrial septal aneurysm in 8%, neither atrial nor ventricular thrombi were found. At least one abnormal TEE finding was present in 70 (67%) of stroke patients. Abnormal TEE findings were more often seen in patients with anterior circulation infarct than in those with posterior circulation infarcts, although the difference was not statistically significant. Left atrial thrombus and mitral valve prolapse occurred statistically significantly more often in stroke patients than in the control group. Conclusions - Echocardiographic examination is often abnormal in patients with ischemic stroke. The study did not reveal the statistically significant difference in the prevalence of abnormal transesophageal echocardiography findings between patients with anterior and posterior circulation infarcts.     

缺血性脑卒中患者P选择素、溶酶体蛋白表达的变化及其临床意义

目的　探讨缺血性脑卒中患者P选择素(CD62P)、溶酶体蛋白(CD63)表达的规律及其临床意 义。方法　运用流式细胞术检测168例缺血性脑卒中患者(急性期及恢复期)及40名健康对照者CD62P、CD63 的表达,并与神经功能缺损程度评分(NDS)进行相关分析。结果　(1)缺血性脑卒中患者急性期CD62P、CD63 表达[(9.48±1.24)%、(8.36±1.18)%]显著高于其恢复期[(5.73±1.27)%、(4.21±1.20)%]及健康对 照组[(1.59±0.56)%、(0.92±0.38)%](均P<0.01),恢复期CD62P、CD63表达仍高于对照组(P<0.01); (2)缺血性脑卒中组急性期患者按牛津郡社区卒中计划分为4个亚型,CD62P、CD63表达在完全前循环梗死 (TACI)组[(16.45±1.13)%、(15.59±1.28)%]明显高于部分前循环梗死(PACI)组[(10.63±1.18)%、 (9.38±1.14)%]、后循环梗死(POCI)组[(10.54±1.14)%、(9.33±1.13)%]及腔隙性梗死(LACI)组 [(6.59±1.35)%、(5.53±1.20)%](均P<0.01),PACI组及POCI组明显高于LACI组(均P<0.01),而 PACI组及POCI组之间差异无显著性(P>0.05);(3)CD62P、CD63表达与NDS呈显著直线正相关(r=0.84、 r=0.817,均P<0.01)。结论　缺血性脑卒中患者急性期CD62P、CD63表达显著升高,可能参与了缺血性脑损 伤形成的病理过程,并间接反映其病情程度;恢复期CD62P、CD     

Prior antiplatelet use and infarct volume in ischemic stroke

BACKGROUND: Conflicting data exist on the role of antiplatelet agents in reducing incident ischemic stroke magnitude, but most prior studies used clinically-assessed neurologic deficit as the index of stroke extent rather than more precise volumetric measurements of infarct size. We assessed the relation of premorbid antiplatelet use to initial diffusion-weighted MRI (DWI) lesion volumes among acute ischemic stroke patients. METHODS: Consecutive patients presenting within 24 h of ischemic stroke over an 18-month period were studied. DWI lesions were outlined using a semi-automated threshold technique. Subjects were categorized into two groups: antiplatelet (AP) or no antithrombotic (NA). The relationship between prestroke antithrombotic status and DWI infarct volumes was examined using multivariate quantile regression. RESULTS: One hundred sixty-six individuals met study criteria: 75 AP and 91 NA patients. Median DWI volume was lower in the AP group than in the NA group (1.5 cc vs. 5.4 cc, p=0.031). A multivariable model (adjusting for age, history of transient ischemic attack, admission temperature, admission blood pressure, admission serum glucose, stroke onset to imaging interval, stroke mechanism, premorbid statin and antihypertensive use) demonstrated smaller infarcts in the AP vs. NA group (adjusted volume difference: -1.3 cc, 95% CI=-0.09, -2.5, p=0.037). Prior statin use, no history of TIA, large vessel atherosclerosis and microvascular ischemic disease stroke mechanism were also independently associated with reduced infarct volume. CONCLUSIONS: Prior antiplatelet treatment is independently associated with reduced cerebral infarct volume among acute ischemic stroke patients. Premorbid statin use, TIA history and stroke mechanism also predict infarct volume in ischemic stroke.     

Diagnostic validity of sensorimotor stroke]

BACKGROUND: In the clinical practice, "sensorimotor stroke" (SMS) do not always correspond to the diagnosis of small-vessel occlusion (SVO, lacune). We aimed to evaluate diagnostic validity of acute SMS with the use of diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DWI). METHODS: We analyzed 57 consecutive patients with first-ever acute ischemic stroke presenting with SMS. Acute infarcts were identified on DWI within 7 days of stroke onset in all patients. Vascular risk factors, emboligenic heart diseases, occlusive cerebral artery disease, infarct size and location, and stroke subtype were evaluated. Stroke subtype was classified according to the TOAST classification. RESULTS: SMS occurred in 57 cases; 40 men and 17 women (mean +/- age, 68.5 +/- 12.1 years). Frequency of hypertension was the highest (n = 30, 53%) in the vascular risk factors. Emboligenic heart diseases and cerebral artery disease were identified in 14 (25%) and 11 patients (19%), respectively. DWI revealed subcortical infarcts in 47 patients (84%) and infarct diameter <15 mm in 25 (44%). Only 18 patients (32%) met the diagnostic criteria for SVO. CONCLUSION: Diagnostic validity of acute SMS was rather low. The clinical picture of SMS is far from being used as synonymous of a SVO.