Abstract WP115: DWI/FLAIR Mismatch Is Common In Late Window Patients With Target Perfusion Mismatch

Abstract

Introduction: The presence of a DWI/FLAIR mismatch has been suggested as a method to identify patients within 4.5 hours from stroke symptom onset. We studied patients from DEFUSE 2 and 3 with the target perfusion mismatch profile to evaluate the rates of DWI/FLAIR mismatch in patients with who have favorable collaterals in early and late time windows. We hypothesize that the persistence of DWI/FLAIR mismatch in late window patients may reflect good collateral circulation. Methods: We identified 58 eligible patients in D2 and 30 patients from D3. Imaging was reviewed by two neuroradiologists and one neurologist who rated the presence of DWI-FLAIR mismatch. Results: The inter-rater agreement for the presence of DWI/FLAIR mismatch was 88.3%. There were 32 patients who were < 6 hours from last known well (LKW) or symptom onset, 17 patients who were ≥ 6 hours from symptom onset, and 26 patients who were ≥ 6 hours from LKW with an unknown time of symptom onset. These are categorized as early, late, and suspected late window, respectively. The rate of DWI/FLAIR mismatch was 56% in the early window group, 41% in the late window group, and 35% in the suspected late window group. The overall rate of DWI/FLAIR mismatch did not differ significantly between these three groups (56% vs. 41% vs. 35%, p=0.239). Of the early window patients, the rate of DWI-FLAIR mismatch was higher in those with the target perfusion mismatch profile (67%) compared to those without (36%). All but one the known onset late window patients had the target perfusion mismatch profile, and the rate of DWI-FLAIR mismatch in this group was 35%. Forthcoming analyses will include predictors of DWI-FLAIR mismatch such as hypoperfusion intensity ratio, time from symptom onset, and NIHSS score. Conclusions: More than one-third of patients presenting >6 hours from symptom onset with a target perfusion mismatch profile have DWI/FLAIR mismatch. This could reflect the presence of good collateral circulation that may delay the appearance of a FLAIR lesion. The rate of DWI/FLAIR mismatch did not differ among early, late, and expected late window patients. This suggests that, among patients with favorable collaterals, DWI/FLAIR mismatch does not reliably identify early window patients.