以急性多发性脑梗死为首发表现的隐匿性躯体恶性肿瘤12例报告

目的研究以急性多发脑梗死为首发表现的隐匿性躯体恶性肿瘤患者的临床表现、实验室检查、影像学、微栓子监测检查特点,探讨其可能的发病机制。方法纳入以急性多发性脑梗死为首发表现的隐匿性躯体恶性肿瘤患者12例,收集其临床资料,分析其实验室血液学、头颅MRI、微栓子监测结果及其治疗和预后。结果所有患者均以局灶性神经功能缺损为主要表现,包括偏瘫、失语、偏身感觉障碍、构音障碍、眩晕、肢体抽搐等。头颅DWI示急性多发脑梗死,病灶播散性分布,不符合单支动脉供血区,同时累及双侧前循环或前后循环。11例行D-dimer检查者8例升高。7例行微栓子监测有5例阳性。隐匿性躯体恶性肿瘤包括:肺癌5例,胰腺癌3例,胃癌、结肠癌、子宫内膜癌、转移性低分化粘液腺癌原发肿瘤部位不明各1例;诊断时就已有远处转移者10例。病程中缺血性卒中复发者7例,急性心肌梗死4例,住院期间死亡3例,预后差。结论对于不符合单支动脉供血区的多发急性脑梗死,需要考虑可能合并隐匿性躯体恶性肿瘤,凝血功能筛查高凝状态和微栓子阳性可能是诊断提示线索。     

大脑中动脉狭窄患者急性脑梗死发病机制:一项弥散加权磁共振和微栓子监测研究

目的我们前瞻性研究了30例经颅多谱勒超声(TCD)和核磁血管成像(MRA)检查证实大脑中动脉(MCA)狭窄,并在该供血区域出现急性缺血性卒中患者,以探讨MCA狭窄的可能机制。方法全部病人均进行微栓子监测以及弥散加权磁共振(DWI)检查。急性梗死分成单发和多发梗死,梗死部位分成皮层梗死(CI)、交界区梗死(BI)和深穿支动脉梗死(PAI)。微栓子信号(MES)和DWI梗死病灶分别由两位不同的医生在不知道对方资料的情况下确认。结果DWI结果发现急性多发脑梗死和单发梗死各15例(50%)。多发梗死病人中,成链状排列的BI最常见(11例,占73%)。单发梗死中只有PAI是最常见的类型(10例,占67%)。10例(33%)病人检测到MES,每30min内MES的中位数为15(3-102)个。MES在多发梗死中的发生频率(9/15,60.0%)明显高于单发梗死(1/15,6.7%)(P=0.002)。MES的数目能预测DWI上脑梗死的数目(线性回归,调整后R2=0.475,P<0.01)。结论MCA狭窄梗死最常见的原因有两个:①穿支动脉闭塞引起的皮层下小的腔隙性梗死;②由动脉-动脉的栓子不能被清除而造成的多发小梗死,尤其是在交界区更明显。     

急性脑梗死患者微栓子监测与颈动脉硬化的相关性分析

目的探究微栓子、颈动脉粥样硬化斑块与急性脑梗死的相关性分析。方法选择2012-09—2014-09我院收治的77例急性脑梗死住院患者,斑块组46例,无斑块组31例。采集静脉血行TC、TG、LDL-C、HDL-C检测,行脑动脉微栓子监测与动脉彩色超声检查。结果斑块组高血压、吸烟、糖尿病、高TC血症、高LDL-C血症显著高于无斑块组;不稳定性斑块微栓子阳性率显与稳定性斑块微栓子阳性率比较;单发微栓阳性率与多发微栓子阳性率比较,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论大部分急性脑梗死患者并发颈动脉粥样硬化斑块,其中微栓子主要来自不稳定斑块。微栓子存在即易导致脑梗死,应及时对症治疗。     

急性脑梗死患者认知功能障碍与病灶部位的相关性研究

目的探讨急性脑梗死患者的认知功能障碍与病灶部位的关系，为临床早期诊断和治疗认知功能障碍提供依据。方法对60例急性脑梗死患者利用韦氏成人智力量表（WAIS—RC）进行测查全量表智商（FIQ）后，将患者分为认知功能障碍组和非认知功能障碍对照组，选用磁共振成像进行病灶部位和范围的检测，评定患者的认知功能与病灶部位的相关性。结果急性脑梗死患者认知功能障碍的发生率为48．3％；两组患者大脑半球左侧和右侧、前部和后部，皮层和皮层下，大脑中动脉供血区和大脑后动脉供血区相比，有统计学差异（P〈0．05）。结论脑梗死患者的认知功能障碍与病灶部位具有相关性，大脑半球损伤左侧、前部、皮层更可能导致认知功能障碍。     

急性脑梗死患者抑郁与病灶部位的相关性研究

目的探讨脑梗死患者抑郁与病灶部位的关系。方法对78例脑梗死患者利用汉密顿抑郁量表(HAMD)进行检查后,将患者分为抑郁组和非抑郁对照组,选用磁共振成像(MRI)进行病灶部位和范围的检测,评定患者的抑郁与病灶部位的相关性。结果脑梗死患者抑郁的发生率为42.3%;2组患者大脑半球左侧和右侧比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);前部和后部、皮层和皮层下比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);大脑前、中动脉供血区比较,差异无统计学意义(P>0.05);大脑前、中动脉供血区与大脑后动脉供血区比较,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05)。结论脑梗死患者的抑郁与病灶部位有相关性,大脑半球前部、皮层损伤及大脑半球大脑前、中动脉供血区损伤,更可能导致抑郁。     

大脑中动脉狭窄与其深穿支供血区单发脑梗死的关系

目的 分析大脑中动脉(MCA)深穿支供血区单发脑梗死的形态学表现,进一步探讨其与MCA狭窄的关系.方法 连续入选2005年1月至2006年12月于北京协和医院神经科住院治疗急性脑梗死,并经头颅DWI检查明确急性梗死灶为单发,且位于MCA深穿支供血区域的55例患者;所有患者均行TCD和MRA检查,颅外颈内动脉狭窄>50%以及有可疑心源性栓子来源的患者从研究中排除.根据是否存在病灶同侧MCA狭窄将入选患者分为两组:MCA狭窄组(14例)与MCA正常组(41例).测量DWI上急性梗死灶的直径、面积和体积,并将直径≤2 cm归为经典腔隙性梗死,直径>2 cm归为纹状体内囊梗死.DWI上的梗死灶区分为基底节区、侧脑室体旁和同时累及上述2个部位,并判断MRI T2>像上皮质下多发陈旧性小梗死灶或白质疏松是否存在.结果 55例患者中,病灶侧MCA狭窄患者14例(25.5%),MCA正常患者41例(74.5%).MCA狭窄组中经典腔隙性梗死占71.4%,MCA正常组中经典腔隙性梗死占67.3%,差异无统计学意义(χ2=0.147,P=0.701).MCA狭窄组与正常组患者MCA深穿支梗死病灶的大小(包括直径、面积及体积)差异均无统计学意义.MCA正常组和MCA狭窄组病灶在基底节区、侧脑室体旁及基底节区+侧脑室体旁分布的比例依次为:正常组31.7%、17.1%和51.2%;狭窄组35.7%、28.6%和35.7%,两组间差异无统计学意义(χ2=1.272,P=0.529).同时存在皮质下多发陈旧性小梗死灶或白质疏松的患者在MCA正常组有23例(56.1%),在MCA狭窄组有3例(21.4%),二者差异有统计学意义(χ2=5.033,P=0.025).结论 MCA深穿支供血区梗死具有不同的发病机制,MCA狭窄和穿支动脉本身病变均可造成深穿支供血区单发脑梗死.梗死灶的大小、体积及梗死发生的部位与是否存在同侧大脑中动脉狭窄无明显相关性,而同时存在皮质下多发陈旧性小梗死灶或白质疏松对穿支动脉病变有提示作用.     

大脑中动脉粥样硬化性狭窄患者卒中类型分析

目的研究大脑中动脉粥样硬化性狭窄或闭塞(MCAOD)患者的卒中类型及其发病机制。方法经TCD和(或)MRA确诊的症状性MCAOD的患者,依据头部弥散加权核磁成像(DWI)所示梗死灶的特点进行分类,并与MCA狭窄程度进行相关性分析。结果84例症状性MCAOD患者中,73.8%的患者表现为多发性脑梗死,主要累及内交界区(53.6%)、半卵圆中心(29.1%)和皮层(22.6%)。皮层区域内梗死、交界区梗死、深部小梗死灶的发生率分别为46.4%、56.0%和44.0%,以多发小灶性梗死为主,很少引起MCA主干支完全梗死。且皮层支完全梗死、半卵圆中心梗死与严重MCA狭窄有关,而腔隙样梗死多见于轻度MCAOD患者。结论MCAOD患者可表现为各种梗死类型,以交界区梗死最常见,且多发性脑梗死为MCAOD患者最常见的表现类型,主要累及皮层下白质等部位,病灶以链型或弧线型分布为特点,动脉-动脉栓塞为其发病机制之一;深部小梗死多为孤立病灶,与MCA主干粥样硬化斑继发的血栓堵塞豆纹动脉入口有关。     

急性脑梗死患者脑微栓子与颈动脉硬化的关系

目的 探讨急性脑梗死患者脑动脉系统微栓子(MES)与颈动脉硬化的关系.方法 收集急性脑梗死患者73例,进行脑动脉微栓子监测和颈动脉彩色多普勒超声检测,观察有脑动脉系统微栓子的病例数.结果 (1)41例有颈动脉斑块,32例无颈动脉斑块;(2)有颈动脉斑块者MES阳性率(46.34%)较无斑块者MES阳性率(21.88%)高(P<0.05);(3)颈动脉不稳定斑块MES阳性率(80%)较稳定性斑块MES阳性率(26.92%)高(P<0.01);(4)MES与颈动脉的狭窄程度、内膜增厚及斑块的个数无相关性.结论 颈动脉粥样硬化斑块的存在及不稳定性是导致脑动脉系统微栓子的重要因素之一,应高度重视,稳定颈动脉斑块是防治动脉至动脉栓塞的重要措施.     

颈内和大脑中动脉狭窄与闭塞的梗死类型及卒中机制的研究

目的 研究单侧动脉粥样硬化性MCA/ICA狭窄与闭塞的急性缺血性脑卒中患者在DWI上的梗死类型及发病机制.方法 起病48h内DWI诊断的急性脑梗死伴有动脉粥样硬化性MCA/ICA狭窄与闭塞的131例患者,有潜在心源性栓子患者除外.急性期DWI上梗死病灶分为：（1）单发病灶（小的穿动脉梗死灶;大的穿动脉梗死灶,皮层支梗死,大面积梗死,分水岭梗死）;（2）多发梗死病灶.结果 131例患者,ICA51例,MCA80例.ICA出现最多的梗死类型：穿支动脉伴分水岭梗死,但与MCA比较,皮层支伴分水岭梗死具有统计学意义（8/51,P=0.001）.MCA以穿支动脉伴皮层支梗死最多,且与ICA比较,具有统计学意义（12/80,P=0.003）.MCA中任何皮层支梗死与狭窄程度无关,ICA中任何分水岭梗死与狭窄程度相关.结论 颈内和大脑中动脉狭窄与闭塞在DWI上的梗死类型有明显的不同,提示有着不同的卒中发病机制.     

大脑中脑动脉供血区急性脑梗死病灶类型与进展性脑梗死的关系

目的 探讨大脑中动脉供血区急性脑梗死病灶类型及其与进展性脑梗死的关系.方法 回顾性分析140例大脑中动脉供血区急性脑梗死患者病历资料及脑MRI、DWI、MRA影像资料,其中进展组71例,非进展组69例.结果 2组脑梗死类型均可见流域性脑梗死、分水岭脑梗死、纹状体内囊梗死、腔隙性梗死,进展组以分水岭脑梗死(45.1%)、纹状体内囊梗死(46.5%)为主,非进展组以流域性脑梗死(44.9%)为主,2组脑梗死病灶类型比较,差异有统计学意义(χ2=24.829,P<0.01).结论 大脑中动脉供血区急性分水岭脑梗死、纹状体内囊梗死易表现为进展性脑梗死.     

Hematological disorders related cerebral infarctions are mostly multifocal

Hematological disorders (HD) have been estimated to implicate approximately 1% of patients with arterial ischemic stroke. However, previously published studies are mostly retrospective or based on case reports or small series in selected young patients. We herein prospectively included consecutive patients with MRI-confirmed cerebral arterial infarctions among individuals admitted in our stroke unit during a 32 month period to determine the clinical and neuroradiological features of ischemic stroke due to HD. Patients with both HD and other identified sources of stroke were excluded. Among patients who were admitted for suspected stroke, 590 had diffusion-weighted MRI confirmed acute arterial infarcts. Cause of the cerebral infarction was HD in 13 patients (2.2%): myeloproliferative disorders (n=4), multiple myeloma (1), lymphoma (1), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (1), disseminated intravascular coagulation (2), thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (1), antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (2) and homozygous Q506 factor V mutation associated with lupus anticoagulant (1). The HD were previously known in 6 patients. The only significant difference between the groups of patients with or without HD was the prevalence of multiple acute infarcts in different vascular territories, detected in 53.8% of patients with HD versus 7.8% of patients without HD (mostly due to atherosclerosis, small vessel disease or cardioembolism) (p<0.0001; Fisher exact test). Initial treatment in stroke unit included anticoagulation, steroids, chemotherapy, phlebotomy or plasmatic exchanges, according to etiology. Rankin score at six months was ≤2 in 8 patients. A large spectrum of hematological diseases can be associated with cerebral infarction. In the etiologic work up, HD should be particularly looked for in patients with multifocal acute infarcts to adapt specific therapeutic management.     

Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound Evidence of Active Cerebral Embolization in COVID-19

ObjectiveTo report six consecutive patients with confirmed coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) who underwent Transcranial Doppler (TCD) ultrasonography evaluation for cerebral microemboli in the setting of suspected or confirmed acute ischemic stroke.MethodsPatient data were obtained from medical records from Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL between May and June 2020. All patients with confirmed COVID-19 who underwent clinical TCD ultrasonography for microemboli detection were included.ResultsA total of eight TCD studies were performed in six patients with COVID-19 (4 men and 2 women, median age 65±5), four with confirmed ischemic stroke and two with refractory encephalopathy. Microemboli were detected in three male patients, two patients had suffered a confirmed ischemic stroke and one who developed prolonged encephalopathy. Microemboli of varying intensity were identified in multiple vascular territories in two patients, and microemboli persisted despite therapeutic anticoagulation in a third patient. Of the three patients without evidence of microemboli on TCD ultrasonography, two patients had suffered a confirmed ischemic stroke, while one remained with refractory encephalopathy.ConclusionsTCD ultrasonography for microemboli detection identified three patients with confirmed COVID-19 with evidence of cerebral arterial microemboli, including one who was therapeutically anticoagulated. TCD ultrasonography provides a non-invasive method for evaluating cerebral microemboli in patients with COVID-19 and may be useful in assessing response to treatment in cases with suspected or confirmed disorders of hypercoagulability. Further studies investigating the prevalence of cerebral microemboli and associated risk factors are needed to characterize their pathogenic mechanism and guide therapeutic interventions in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.     

Double infarction in one cerebral hemisphere

Thirty-two patients whose first stroke was due to double infarct in one cerebral hemisphere were identified among 1,911 consecutive patients from the Lausanne Stroke Registry. The double infarct involved territories of the superficial middle cerebral artery, superficial posterior cerebral artery, lenticulostriate, anterior choroidal artery, or borderzone. The most common combination involved territories of the anterior middle cerebral artery plus the posterior middle cerebral artery. In the patients with the double infarct, the prevalence of potential cardiac sources of embolism (19%) was similar to that found in the registry in general, but the double infarct was closely associated with tight (greater than or equal to 90% of the lumen diameter) stenosis or occlusion (75%) of the internal carotid artery. The most common neurological picture mimicked large infarction in the middle cerebral artery territory, but nearly half of the patients with double infarct in one cerebral hemisphere had a specific clinical syndrome, which was not found in the 1,879 remaining patients from the registry, including hemianopia-hemiplegia (in 6), acute conduction aphasia-hemiparesis (in 2), and acute transcortical mixed aphasia (in 6), in relation to characteristic combinations of infarcts. These unique clinical and etiological correlates warrant the recognition of double infarct in one cerebral hemisphere from other acute ischemic strokes.     

Multiple acute infarcts in the posterior circulation.

OBJECTIVE--to evaluate clinical, radiological, and prognostic features of patients with multiple acute infarcts in remote arterial territories of the posterior circulation. DESIGN--Data analysis from a prospective acute stroke registry in a community based primary care centre using a standard protocol including MRI and MRA. RESULTS--In three and a half years, 27 of the 236 patients (11%) with posterior circulation stroke had multiple acute infarcts in the posterior circulation as shown by gadolinium enhancement on MRI. Eighteen patients had multiple infratentorial and supratentorial infarcts including the cerebellum and posterior cerebral artery territory, with coexisting brainstem involvement in seven patients. Fourteen patients had a rostral basilar artery syndrome and cerebellar signs; four patients had a visual field defect with cerebellar signs. Causes were vertebral (six) or basilar (four) artery atheromatosis, and cardioembolism (four). Seven patients had multiple acute infarcts in the posterior circulation of the cerebellum and lower brainstem. Brainstem and cerebellar signs were found in most patients (five); aetiologies were small vessel disease (four), cardioembolism (one), and vertebral artery dissection (one). Two patients with large artery atheromatosis had multiple acute infarcts in the posterior circulation in the brainstem and posterior cerebral artery territory. One month after stroke more than 25% of the patients were dependent or had died. There was no difference in the outcome between the three groups, and recovery was linked to the size of infarcts rather than to a high number of infarcts. CONCLUSIONS--multiple acute infarcts in the posterior circulation usually involve the cerebellum. Simultaneous brainstem and posterior cerebral artery territory infarcts sparing the cerebellum are uncommon. They can be suspected clinically before neuroimaging, mainly when supratentorial and infratentorial infarcts coexist. This may be important, because different patterns of infarction are associated with different causes of stroke.     

Ischemic infarction in 25 children with tuberculous meningitis

Twenty-five cases (38%) of ischemic infarction occurred among 65 cases of tuberculous meningitis in patients less than 14 years of age. The male:female ratio was 1.3:1. The most frequent clinical findings were meningeal signs, fever, alteration of consciousness, cranial nerve involvement, seizures, and focal neurologic deficit. Twenty-three patients had anterior circulation infarcts, and two more had infarcts in the vertebrobasilar territories. Distribution of infarcts in the anterior circulation was shown by computed tomography in the territories of the following arteries: lenticulostriate, 10 cases unilateral and 6 bilateral; middle cerebral, 3 cases; internal carotid, 1 case; multiple areas, 3 cases. Of the 25 ischemic infarction cases, 23 (92%) had hydrocephalus, 19 (76%) basal exudates, and 2 (8%) tuberculomas. Outcome was poor since no patient with infarction recovered completely. Six died and bilateral subcortical infarcts led to a considerably higher mortality than unilateral ones, whether cortical or subcortical.     

Distribution of cerebral microembolism in the anterior and middle cerebral arteries

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Cerebral infarcts occur more frequently along the middle (MCA) than the anterior cerebral artery (ACA) territory. The reason(s) for this difference remains speculative. The objective of this study was to investigate the distribution of cerebral microemboli as detected by transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) along the MCA and ACA territories. METHODS: Records of consecutive patients examined for the presence of cerebral microembolism during a 32-month period at the Neurovascular Laboratory were reviewed. Of the original 375 TCD studies in 268 patients, 28 studies in 24 patients demonstrated microembolic signals (MES) and monitored the MCA and ACA on the same side. TCD studies were performed on TC-2000 or TC-2020 instruments. MES positive studies were saved and off-line reviewed. MES satisfied previously established criteria. RESULTS: MES were more frequent in the MCA than the ACA in 85.7% (24/28) of studies (P < 0.01). Of the total number of MES (n = 979), 29.6% (n = 290) were detected in the ACA and 70.4% (n=689) in the MCA (P<0.01). The mean (+/- SD) intensity of MCA MES of 12.2 (+/- 2.4) dB was significantly lower than that of ACA MES of 14.8 (+/-3.2) dB (P=0.05). The mean (+/-SD) duration of MCA MES of 38.1 (+/- 45.3) ms was longer than that of ACA MES of 30.7 (+/-34.0) ms (P=0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Cerebral microembolism occurs more frequently in the MCA than the ACA, which may explain the uneven distribution of cerebral infarcts along these arterial territories. Furthermore, there are significant differences in the characteristics of ACA and MCA MES.     

Transient elevation of the number of microembolic signal in a patient with primary antiphospholipid antibody syndrome]

We report a 55-year-old man complaining of monoparesis of the right arm and dementia. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstrated multiple foci of fresh cerebral embolism. The serum lupus anticoagulant was positive, however, the serum anticardiolipin antibody and other autoantibodies indicating connective tissue diseases were negative. This patient received a diagnosis of primary antiphospholipid antibody syndrome. Transcranial Doppler(TCD) monitoring of the middle cerebral artery showed the presence of microembolic signal (MES). We initiated anticoagulant therapy with intravenous heparin administration, and three days later we added oral warfarin administration. We used both warfarin and heparin together for only three days. The number of MES increased transiently after initiating of warfarin administration, then decreased by warfarin therapy with production of an international normalized ratio (INR) of prothrombin time over 2. His neurological symptoms normalized except for monoparesis of the right arm. There were no foci of fresh cerebral infarct disclosed on brain MRI performed two months after admission. The treatment strategy for antiphospholipid antibody (APS) patients has not yet been established. Some reports and guideline recommended that the stroke patients with APS should be treated with long-term oral anticoagulant therapy, target INR 2.5 (optimal range 2.0 to 3.0). In this patient, we confirmed a decrease in the number of MES by warfarin therapy with production of INR over 2. In APS patients, detection of MES by TCD is a useful device for adjustment of the warfarin dose. Concerning the course of MES and warfarin therapy, transient elevation of the number of MES after initiation of warfarin therapy would suggest the hypercoagulability due to an acute decrease in serum protein C level. Using the TCD technique, we detected such hypercoagulability for the first time.     

The impact of magnetic resonance imaging on the management of acute ischemic stroke.

Despite rapid advances in imaging technology, the etiology of stroke remains unestablished in 40% of patients. MRI improves localization in acute stroke. However, it is not known whether "accurate localization" results in better management. We reviewed the hospital records of all patients admitted with a diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke and who had had cranial CTs and MRI within 10 days of admission. Between January 1987 and June 1990, 116 patients (69 men, 47 women; mean age, 66 years) were identified. Compared with CT localization, infarcts were better localized in nine of 39 patients with cerebral cortical lesions, in 20 of 22 patients with brainstem and cerebellar lesions, and in three of three patients with isolated cerebellar lesions. In 22 patients (18.9%), MRI showed multiple infarcts in two or more vascular territories, suggesting embolic disease and leading to anticoagulation. MRI also showed arterial occlusions in 11 patients (9.5%). Based on the information obtained with MRI, the clinical diagnosis was changed in 19 patients (16.3%), resulting in changes in the management of most of those patients. Thus, we confirm earlier reports that MRI improves localization after acute cerebral infarction and show that such information alters patient management.