in-hospital mortality in patient with acute ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke

There is a lack of evidence to compare in-hospital mortality with different types of stroke. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the in-hospital mortality after acute ischemic/hemorrhagic stroke and compare the factors associated with the mortality among stroke subtypes. All patients admitted to Kurashiki Central Hospital in Japan between January 2009 and December 2009, and diagnosed with acute ischemic/hemorrhagic stroke were included in this study. Demographics and clinical data pertaining to the patients were obtained from their medical records. Out of 738 patients who had an acute stroke, 53 (7.2%) died in the hospital. The in-hospital mortality was significantly lower in the cerebral infarction group than in the intracerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage group (3.5%, 15.1%, and 17.9%, respectively; P<0.0001). Age was significantly lower in the subarachnoid hemorrhage group than in the other 2 groups. With regard to past history, diabetes mellitus was significantly found to be a complication in mortality cases of intracranial hemorrhage. Further investigation is needed to clarify the effect of diabetes on mortality after intracranial hemorrhage.     

Blood pressure management in acute stroke

The optimal management of arterial blood pressure in the setting of an acute stroke has not been defined. Many articles have been published on this topic in the past few years, but definitive evidence from clinical trials continues to be lacking. This situation is complicated further because stroke is a heterogeneous disease. The best management of arterial blood pressure may differ, depending on the type of stroke (ischemic or hemorrhagic) and the subtype of ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke. This article reviews the relationship between arterial blood pressure and the pathophysiology specific to ischemic stroke, primary intracerebral hemorrhage, and aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, elaborating on the concept of ischemic penumbra and the role of cerebral autoregulation. The article also examines the impact of blood pressure and its management on outcome. Finally, an agenda for research in this field is outlined.     

Intracranial Supraclinoid ICA Dissection Causing Cerebral Infarction and Subsequent Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Background

Intracranial arterial dissection usually leads to cerebral infarction or subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). It is rare to see both complications in one clinical scenario.

Methods

Case report and review of the literature.

Results

A 48-year-old woman suffered a left middle cerebral infarct from a dissection of the left supraclinoid ICA. As she was recovering from the ischemic stroke 5 days later she suffered a SAH. The SAH was caused by rupture of a dissecting pseudoaneurysm, which only became evident on repeat catheter angiography. The dissecting pseudoaneurysm was treated with coil occlusion.

Conclusion

Intracranial ICA dissections are typically associated with either ischemic or hemorrhagic presentation. We report an unusual case of a patient who suffered a SAH a few days after an ischemic stroke from the dissection. This case contradicts the long-held dogma that intracranial dissection can have either an ischemic or a hemorrhagic presentation, but not both.     

脑卒中后早期癫痫发作的发生率及其相关因素分析

目的研究脑卒中后2周内癫痫发作的发生率及其相关因素。方法回顾性分析1062例急性脑卒中患者发病后2周内癫痫发作的发生率、发作类型、病死率及癫痫与脑卒中类型、病灶部位的相关性。结果急性脑卒中发病后2周内早期癫痫发作的发生率为5．7%,其中以蛛网膜下腔出血后癫痫发作的发生率最高(9．6%);部分性癫痫发作多发生于缺血性卒中,而出血性卒中以全面性癫痫发作好发。无论病变性质如何,皮质损害的患者易导致早期癫痫发作。结论脑卒中后早期癫痫发作很常见,其发生率与卒中类型及病变部位相关。     

烟雾病脑卒中部位的分布特征及其机制

目的 分析烟雾病脑卒中的好发部位,提高对烟雾病的认识,以减少漏诊.方法 分析我院神经内科1998年1月至2008年12月的32例烟雾病患者,对其脑卒中部位进行总结分类,并计算各构成比.结果 32例病例中男性14例,女性18例,男女比例为1:1.28,发病年龄7～47岁,缺血性脑卒中5例(15.6%),平均年龄24岁,出血性脑卒中21例(65.6%),平均年龄33岁,同时患缺血性脑卒中和出血性脑卒中者6例(18.8%),平均年龄32岁.出现梗死部位共20处,常见部位依次为额顶叶12次(60%)、颞枕叶4次(20%)及基底节区4次(20%),发生出血共28次,常见部位依次为脑室旁11次(42.8%)、脑室11次(39.2%)、颞枕叶3次(10.8%)及蛛网膜下腔2次(7.2%),小脑和脑干无脑卒中发生.结论 成人烟雾病多以颅内出血发病;无脑卒中危险因素成人出现脑室或脑室旁出血、额顶叶梗死以及青少年颅内出现缺血性病变合并癫痫者需高度警惕烟雾病.     

青年烟雾病患者的卒中类型及危险因素分析

目的 探索青年烟雾病患者的卒中类型及临床特征,分析青年烟雾病患者发生卒中的危险因素。 方法 回顾性纳入2020年1月-2021年12月解放军总医院第五医学中心收治的青年（18～45岁）卒中型烟雾病患者,将患者分为出血性卒中组和缺血性卒中组进行亚型分析,对比不同卒中类型患者的临床及影像学特征。并以同期未发生卒中的烟雾病患者作为对照组,应用多因素logistic回归分析青年烟雾病患者发生出血性或缺血性卒中的危险因素。 结果 共入组108例卒中型烟雾病患者,其中出血性卒中22例（20.4%）,缺血性卒中86例（79.6%）。出血性卒中组中脑室出血12例（54.5%）,脑实质出血7例（31.8%）,蛛网膜下腔出血3例（13.6%）。缺血性卒中组中大动脉梗死型21例（24.4%）,血流动力学梗死36例（41.9%）,穿支动脉梗死29例（33.7%）。出血性卒中组与缺血性卒中组性别和合并动脉瘤者比例的差异有统计学意义。无卒中对照组共104例,多因素logistic回归分析结果显示,合并动脉瘤（OR?10.569,95%CI?1.524～73.274,P=0.017）为青年烟雾病患者发生出血性卒中的独立危险因素;增龄（OR?1.058,95%CI?1.004～1.115,P=0.034）、合并糖尿病（OR?4.005,95%CI?1.766～9.080,P=0.001）、高铃木分期（OR?1.363,95%CI 1.037～1.793,P=0.027）为青年烟雾病患者发生缺血性卒中的独立危险因素。 结论 青年烟雾病患者的卒中类型以缺血性卒中为主。血流动力学梗死和脑室出血分别是缺血性卒中和出血性卒中的主要类型。增龄、高铃木分期、合并糖尿病和颅内动脉瘤是引起青年烟雾病患者卒中的独立危险因素。     

真性红细胞增多症并发脑卒中27例临床分析

目的 探讨真性红细胞增多症(PV)并发脑卒中的临床特点及治疗方法.方法 对27例PV并发脑卒中患者的临床资料进行回顾性分析.结果 (1)本组PV并发脑梗死22例(81.5%),其中多发性脑梗死18例(66.7%);短暂性脑缺血发作2例(7.4%);脑出血2例(7.4%);蛛网膜下腔出血(SAH)1例(3.7%).均符合PV的临床表现和体征及血象、骨髓象的改变.(2)影像学检查显示脑梗死以多发小梗死灶多见(66.7%),常见于脑叶、基底节、内囊;脑出血的出血灶内密度不均匀,周边水肿明显.(3)本组采用静脉放血加小剂量化疗治疗,脑卒中痊愈8例,显著进步18例,无效1例.结论 PV并发脑卒中以脑梗死多见,其中又以多发性梗死为主,并发脑出血和SAH较少,采用静脉放血加小剂量化疗治疗的效果较好.     

Intracranial hemorrhage in patients with polycystic kidney disease

To emphasize the important association of polycystic kidney disease and hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage, a registry of 900 consecutive cases of hemorrhagic stroke was reviewed. Eleven patients (1.2%) had intracranial hemorrhage (eight had hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage and the other three had aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage) found to be associated with polycystic kidney disease. These 11 patients also accounted for 11% of the 98 cases of polycystic kidney disease during the 28-month study period. As verified by computed tomography, parenchymal hemorrhage occurred mainly in the putamen and the thalamus, the usual sites for hypertensive cerebral hemorrhage. One patient with cerebral hemorrhage was autopsied and one was studied angiographically, but in neither patient was an intracranial aneurysm identified. In the patients with polycystic kidney disease and intracranial hemorrhage, hypertension had been inadequately treated or even undetected; therefore, I emphasize early detection and more effective control of hypertension in patients with polycystic kidney disease for prophylaxis against hemorrhagic cerebrovascular events.     

Stroke in children under 16 years of age. Clinical and etiological difference with adults

Objectives - The aim of this study was to re-evaluate the clinical features of stroke in children, their outcome and the place of the different mechanisms, in the light of CT-scan and magnetic resonance imaging. Methods - A 10-year review of the Dijon Childhood Neurology Clinic experience (1985–1995) identified 54 patients with arterial stroke. Diagnosis was established by CT-scan and angiography and by magnetic resonance imaging from 1987. When an hemorrhagic stroke was identified, a cerebral arteriogram and an investigation of the coagulation factors were performed. When an ischemic stroke was identified, the following tests were performed: an ultrasound examination of the cervical arteries, a cerebral arteriogram, a lumbar puncture, an investigation of the coagulation factors and lipid status, a measurement of homocystine in the plasma and the urine, an electrocardiogram, a Holter procedure and a cardiac echography. Results - During the 11 full calendar years of this study, we observed 54 stroke patients. There were 31 cases of ischemic stroke, representing some 57% of the total, as well as 23 cases of hemorrhagic stroke, representing 43% of the total. Of the 31 cases with ischemic stroke, 4 had no known predisposing condition, 6 occurred in children with pre-existing heart disease, 2 had moya-moya disease, 2 had leukemia, 2 had a carotid dissection, 1 had an hemolytic-uremic syndrome, and 14 were observed in patients with other associated conditions, such as infections (7 cases) or slight cranial trauma (7 cases). On CT-scan, a basal ganglia infarction was identified in 14 cases. Among the 23 hemorrhagic strokes, 9 were due to arteriovenous malformations, 2 to arterial aneurysm and 5 to cavernomas. Two cases occurred in hemophilia, 2 in idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura, and 2 after throat infections. One case had no etiologic factor. Clinical course was marked by a low mortality rate even in hemorrhagic stroke, long-lasting seizures, and hemidystonia. Conclusion - This neuro-imaging survey focused on the real place of hemorrhage and basal ganglia infarctions in children under 16 years of age, compared to adulthood. Follow-up demonstrated good or complete resolution of neurological deficits despite the frequent late hemidystonia and late epilepsy.     

Natural history and management of mycotic intracranial aneurysm

INTRODUCTION: mycotic intracranial aneurysms are a rare complication of infectious endocarditis. We report four cases of patients with endocarditis, complicated by an acute stroke, revealing a mycotic intracranial aneurysm. PATIENTS AND METHODS: four men (aged range 24 to 63 year old) were admitted for endocarditis, complicated by ischemic stroke in two cases and hemorrhagic stroke in the two other cases, including one with subarachnoid hemorrhage. Neuroimaging disclosed a mycotic cerebral aneurysm in all four cases. DISCUSSION: we will discuss the natural history and the management of mycotic intracranial aneurysm based on a review of the literature and our experience. Three therapeutic options are possible: medical treatment, surgery and endovascular embolisation. CONCLUSION: management of mycotic intracranial aneurysms is still controversial, frequently requiring a multidisciplinary strategy with priority given to endovascular interventions.     

Higher burden of hemorrhagic stroke among women. An autopsy-based study in São Paulo, Brazil

The aim of this study was to verify the gender difference in sudden cardiovascular death, mainly comparing brain infarction and hemorrhagic stroke. We analyzed 970 autopsy cases from a total of 3,802 nonviolent deaths (448 considered as sudden deaths, 296 undetermined, and 226 non-sudden deaths) including patients aged 30-69 years. All cardiovascular diseases were responsible for 69% of sudden deaths, and all types of stroke for only 14%. The proportions of sudden death for all cardiovascular diseases, coronary heart disease and ischemic stroke deaths were similar for both sexes. However, sudden deaths due to all types of stroke (women 20.0%; men 11.1%; p = 0.012) and hemorrhagic stroke (women 15.6%; men 7.9%; p = 0.019) were significantly more frequent among women when compared to men, the main cause being subarachnoid hemorrhage (women 5.6%; men 1.0%; p = 0.011). Hemorrhagic stroke deaths were usually sudden deaths among women.     

Spontaneous intracranial internal carotid artery dissection: report of 10 patients

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous intracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) dissection is an uncommon cause of cerebral infarction, particularly when compared with the dissection of the ICA's cervical portion. Most reports describe extensive strokes with very high mortality rates. OBJECTIVE: To report the clinical and radiological findings of 10 patients with spontaneous intracranial ICA dissection. METHODS: Ten patients (5 women) were included with ages ranging from 15 to 59 years (mean age, 28 years). RESULTS: Nine patients had a stroke (1 had an associated subarachnoid hemorrhage), whereas 1 patient had only transient ischemic attacks. Severe retro-orbital or temporal headache followed by contralateral hemiparesis was the most common initial clinical symptom. No patient had vascular risk factors or a history of neck or head trauma. Stenosis of the supraclinoid portion of the ICA occurred in 8 patients, with extension to the middle cerebral artery or anterior cerebral artery in 2 patients each. Aneurysm formation in the ipsilateral anterior cerebral artery was seen in 1 patient. Two patients had a total occlusion of the supraclinoid portion of the ICA. All patients did well, with no (n = 3), mild (n = 4), or moderate (n = 3) disability on the Modified Rankin Scale during a 3-month follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Spontaneous intracranial ICA dissection can cause ischemic stroke with or without subarachnoid hemorrhage and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of intracranial ICA stenosis or occlusion, especially in young patients. Some patients survive with few or moderate deficits.     

Clinical picture of intracranial non‐traumatic dissecting aneurysm

Non‐traumatic intracranial arterial dissection has been accepted as a unique entity of ‘cerebral infarction in otherwise healthy young adults’, and is particularly prevalent in Western countries. A recent data collection and analysis have revealed additional clinical features. The nationwide study in Japan conducted in 1996 has provided new information on the natural history and current treatment of intracranial dissecting aneurysms in Japan. The incidence of symptomatic dissection was found to be much higher in the vertebrobasilar system than in the carotid system. The mean age of the patients was 51.3 years. Patients with carotid lesions were younger (mean 43.8 years). The male/female ratio was 2 : 1. Fifty‐eight percent of patients presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage. Recurrence was more frequent in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (14%) than in patients with no hemorrhage (4.2%). Common radiological findings were dilatation, ‘pearl and string’ sign and narrowing of the affected artery. Surgical treatment involved a variety of procedures including proximal occlusion, entrapment, wrapping and endovascular embolization. Patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (61%) underwent surgical treatment more frequently than patients with no hemorrhage (17%). Good recovery was achieved in 64% of all patients. Outcome was better in patients with no subarachnoid hemorrhage compared with those with hemorrhage.     

Bleeding risk of tirofiban, a nonpeptide GPIIb/IIIa platelet receptor antagonist in progressive stroke: an open pilot study.

BACKGROUND: Glycoprotein (gp) IIb/IIIa-receptor antagonists are highly effective antiplatelet agents with proven efficacy in the treatment of acute coronary and experimental cerebral ischemia. In this study we examined the rate of hemorrhagic transformation and major bleedings in patients with acute stroke treated with tirofiban, a nonpeptide gpIIb/IIIa antagonist. METHODS: Eighteen patients with progressively deteriorating acute ischemic stroke were treated with body-weight adjusted intravenous tirofiban for a mean period of 46 h and compared with a matched group of 17 acute ischemic clinically stable stroke patients. Cerebral hemorrhage was assessed by cranial imaging 6-10 days after symptom onset. RESULTS: No major intracranial hemorrhage was observed in either group. Clinically asymptomatic hemorrhagic infarctions type I/II/III were detected in 4/2/0 controls and in 4/1/1 patients of the tirofiban group, respectively (OR = 0.92; 95% CI 0.4-2.5). Clinical outcome scores were not different in both groups (p = 0.18). CONCLUSIONS: Tirofiban was not associated with a significantly increased cerebral bleeding rate in acute ischemic stroke. Randomized multicenter studies are needed to further evaluate the safety and efficacy of tirofiban in the treatment of acute stroke.     

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.     

Stroke in Saudi Arabian young adults: a study of 120 cases

One hundred and twenty cases of stroke occurring in Saudi Arabian subjects aged 15 to 45 years are reviewed. These constituted 12.7% of a group of 946 stroke patients. Males outnumbered females (76/44). The frequency of intracranial hemorrhage, including subarachnoid hemorrhage, was slightly lower than cerebral infarction (41.5 vs 58.5%). The causes of large cerebral infarction were as follows: atherosclerosis 17 (28%), cardiac embolism 12 (19.5%), uncommon and uncertain causes 21 (34.5%). Some unusual causes were encountered such as dissecting arterial aneurysm due to popular healing manoeuvres or to traditional dance, retrograde embolism from a thoracic outlet syndrome or embolism from a fibroelastoma of the mitral valve chorda. Lacunar cerebral infarction was diagnosed in nine cases. Hypertension (25.5%) and arteriovenous malformations (20.5%) were the main causes of cerebral hemorrhage; all subarachnoid hemorrhages except one were due to berry aneurysms. The cause was undetermined in 16% of cerebral infarction and 26% of intracranial hemorrhage. The high frequency of stroke in young Saudi Arabian adults is probably a reflection of the demographic structure of the predominantly young Saudi society. The observed causes were relatively similar to those in industrial societies. Contrary to other developing countries infectious disease no longer seems to be an important cause of stroke. Drug abuse, which is becoming an important cause in Western societies, was encountered in only two of our cases.     

Cerebrovascular disorders in young adults in Saudi Arabia. A study of 136 cases]

We report our experience of stroke in 136 young adults aged from 18 to 45 years seen in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia over a 10-year period. They constituted 25% of all our stroke cases. Thirty-eight percent were Saudi nationals and 62% expatriates. Males largely outnumbered females. The frequency of cerebral infarction (54%) was not very different from that of intracranial hemorrhage (45%). Atherosclerosis and embolism of cardiac origin were the major causes of infarction. The main causes of intracranial bleeding were arterial aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations and hypertension. However, the causes of 29% of ischemic strokes and 44% of hemorrhagic ones remained undetermined. Interethnic comparison of the causes showed that hemorrhages were significantly more frequent in Far East immigrants. Sixty five percent of cerebral infarctions in Asiatic patients remained of undetermined origin. The local variant of sickle cell gene did not seem to play a major role in the pathogenesis of stroke in the Saudi young adult. These data are commented and compared with similar reported data. The influence of the demographic structures of the Saudi population and immigrants communities is analyzed.     

Anterior Cerebral Artery Dissection in a Patient With Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease

Intracranial artery dissection secondary to autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease is far less common than cerebral aneurysm. A 55-year-old man presented a sudden onset of headache and disturbed consciousness caused by ischemic stroke in the bilateral frontal lobes with minor subarachnoid hemorrhage. The bilateral anterior cerebral arteries were firstly occluded and re-perfused with irregular narrowing and dilation in 3 days after stroke onset, indicating dissection. He was diagnosed with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease by abdominal CT findings and by his family history though his renal function was almost normal. Dissection in the anterior cerebral artery has not been reported previously, while some cases with dissection in the vertebral and extracranial arteries were reported in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. His family also had a history of aortic dissection and subarachnoid hemorrhage. Intracranial artery dissection may be a manifestation of systemic arteriopathy with familial clustering in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. Strict antihypertensive treatment is needed in these cases.     

出血性卒中的脑血流自动调节研究进展

脑血流自动调节 （cerebral autoregulation, CA） 是人体在一定血压或脑灌注压波动范围内维持脑血流量 （cerebral blood flow） 相对稳定的能力, 可避免脑组织发生高灌注或低灌注。 CA在出血性卒中中存在不同程度受损, 且与临床因素及预后密切相关。 对出血性卒中患者行CA监测不仅可评估临床预后, 还可为动脉血压及脑灌注压的管理提供参考信息。 本文主要就脑出血 （intracerebral hemorrhage, ICH） 和蛛网膜下腔出血 （subarachnoid hemorrhage, SAH） 的CA相关进展做一综述, 旨在探讨CA在上述疾病中的改变及其临床应用价值。     

Thunderclap headache: An approach to a neurologic emergency

Thunderclap headache (TCH) refers to an excruciating headache of instantaneous onset. Recognition and accurate diagnosis of this headache are important because it can be caused by various serious underlying brain disorders such as subarachnoid hemorrhage, intracranial hematoma, cerebral venous sinus thrombosis, cervical artery dissection, ischemic stroke, pituitary apoplexy, acute arterial hypertension, spontaneous intracranial hypotension, third ventricle colloid cyst, and intracranial infections. Patients with TCH who have evidence of reversible, segmental, cerebral vasoconstriction of circle of Willis arteries and normal or near-normal cerebrospinal fluid evaluation are considered to have reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome. Primary TCH is diagnosed when no underlying etiology is identified. In this review, we discuss the differential diagnosis of ICH, outline the characteristics and diagnostic criteria for primary TCH, offer a pathophysiologic hypothesis for primary TCH, and detail the diagnostic evaluation of the patient presenting with TCH.