Abstract 180: The Growth Rate of Early DWI Lesions is Highly Variable and Associated with Penumbral Salvage and Clinical Outcomes Following Endovascular Reperfusion

Abstract

Background: The degree of variability in the rate of early DWI expansion has not been well characterized. We hypothesized that Target Mismatch patients with slowly expanding DWI lesions have more penumbral salvage and better clinical outcomes following endovascular reperfusion than Target Mismatch patients with rapidly expanding DWI lesions. Methods: This substudy of DEFUSE 2 included all patients with a clearly established time of symptom onset. The initial DWI growth rate was determined from the baseline scan by assuming a volume 0 ml just prior to symptom onset. Target Mismatch patients who achieved reperfusion (>50% reduction in PWI after endovascular therapy), were categorized into tertiles according to their initial DWI growth rates. For each tertile, penumbral salvage (comparison of final volume to the volume of PWI (Tmax > 6 sec)/ DWI mismatch prior to endovascular therapy), favorable clinical response, and good functional outcome (see figure for definitions) were calculated. We also compared the growth rate in patients with the Target mismatch vs. Malignant Profile. Results: 64 patients were eligible for this study. Target mismatch patients (n=44) had initial growth rates (range 0 to 43 ml/hr, median of 3 ml/hr) that were significantly less than the growth rates in Malignant profile (n=7) patients (12 to 92 ml/hr, median 39 ml/hr; p < 0.001). In Target mismatch patients who achieved reperfusion (n=30), slower early DWI growth rates were associated with better clinical outcomes (p<0.05) and a trend toward more penumbral salvage (n=27, p=0.137). Conclusions: The growth rate of early DWI lesions in acute stroke patients is highly variable; Malignant profile patients have higher growth rates than other MRI profiles. Among Target Mismatch patients, a slower rate of DWI growth is associated with a greater degree of penumbral salvage and improved clinical outcomes following endovascular reperfusion.