Abstract TP40: Time From Stroke Onset to Reperfusion is Associated With Worse Functional Outcomes in Patients With Rapidly Progressing Infarcts

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Introduction: Recent trials have demonstrated the benefit of endovascular therapy (EVT) beyond 6 hours of symptom onset. However, the importance of time to reperfusion (TTR) in the extended time window has recently been questioned. Given the variability of infarct growth rate (IGR), the time delay until reperfusion may have greater consequences for those with rapidly progressing infarcts, and identifying such patients is essential for improving outcomes. We tested the hypothesis that TTR is more closely associated with functional outcome in patients with rapidly progressing infarcts compared to their slow-progressing counterparts. Methods: We retrospectively identified 106 patients at our center’s prospectively collected stroke database with anterior circulation large-vessel occlusion stroke and known time of symptom onset. Patients underwent initial CT perfusion imaging (CTP), EVT and and follow-up MRI at 24 hours. Core infarct volumes at presentation (CBF<30%) were estimated using RAPID software. The time between symptom onset and CTP was used to estimate IGR and to categorize patients as fast (≥5 mL/hour) or slow (<5 mL/hour) progressors. Alternatively, final infarct volume (FIV) was measured on MRI and used to calculate IGR in the absence of CTP. Functional outcome was assessed using the modified Rankin scale (mRS) at discharge and 90 days. Associations were computed using ordinal regression adjusting for age, ASPECTS, and TICI. Results: 35 fast progressors (age 71±14, 17 F, TTR 288±91 minutes, mean IGR 21±24 mL/hour) and 71 slow progressors (age 71±17, 48 F, TTR 374±211 minutes, mean IGR 1.0±1.5 mL/hour) were identified. Fast progressors had higher admission NIHSS scores (18±6 vs 13±7, p<0.001) and significantly larger FIV (101±77 vs 47±65 mL, p<0.001). After adjusting for baseline factors, TTR was significantly associated with worse functional outcome at 90 days in fast progressors (p=0.026, aOR 1.13 per 10 minutes, 95% CI 1.02-1.28), but not for slow progressors (p=0.708). Conclusions: In patients with rapidly progressing infarcts (≥5 mL/hour), TTR was associated with worse functional outcomes at 90 days compared to slow progressors. Identifying such patients may be critical for appropriate triage and rapid delivery of acute stroke care.