Reader Response: Early Neurologic Deterioration in Lacunar Stroke: Clinical and Imaging Predictors and Association With Long-term Outcome.

Abstract

Early neurologic deterioration (END) in lacunar stroke is a relatively common development, occurring approximately in 1 in 6 patients, as revealed by the interesting study of Vynckier et al.1 Using the Rankin Scale, the definition of END is a ≥2 point NIH Stroke Scale score increase in ≤24 hours after admission. I question whether orthostatic blood pressures, if tolerated, are measured at the same time.