Anterior Cerebral Artery Stroke Research Articles

Tandem occlusions involving the internal carotid and anterior cerebral arteries-A rare form of stroke: Results from the multicenter EVATRISP collaboration study.

Patients with stroke secondary to isolated anterior cerebral artery (ACA) occlusions have poor outcomes. Whether tandem occlusions (TO) of the extracranial internal carotid (ICA) and the ACA carry even worse outcomes that remain unknown. Patients with TO involving ICA and ACA occlusions were identified from 14 participating centers from the EndoVascular treatment And ThRombolysis in Ischemic Stroke Patients (EVATRISP) project which is a multicenter, observational, cohort study with prospective accrual of data followed by retrospective data analysis. Patients with isolated ACA stroke served as controls. Included were 92 patients with isolated ACA and 16 patients with ICA-ACA TO stroke. On univariate analyses, patients with TO had more severe strokes on admission [median NIHSS (IQR) 13.5 (9-21) vs. 8 (5-12), p = 0.003] and were more often treated with thrombectomy (81 vs. 40%, p = 0.002). Mortality rates were higher among TO patients (31 vs. 11%, p = 0.03). Rates of favorable functional outcomes were numerically lower among TO patients (38 vs. 60%) but the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.09). On multivariate analyses, the presence of TO did not modify the chances for favorable outcomes. TO stroke with ICA and isolated ACA involvement is rare and results in more severe initial neurological deficits and higher mortality compared to those seen in patients with isolated ACA stroke.

Bilateral Cerebral Infarctions Secondary to Unilateral ICA Stenosis

A 76-year-old diabetic man presented to us with complaints of sudden-onset right-sided weakness for the last 4 days. On evaluation, he was found to have right hemiparesis (Modified Medical Research Council grade 4-/5) along with left leg weakness (4+/5). Neuroimaging revealed acute infarcts in the right anterior cerebral artery (ACA) territory and left cerebral external watershed territory. Magnetic resonance (MR) angiogram of the brain showed a hypoplastic right A1-ACA with bilateral A2-ACA arising from the left A1-ACA (bi-hemispheric A1-ACA). MR angiogram of the neck revealed significant left internal carotid artery (ICA) origin stenosis. It was concluded that the origin of right A2-ACA from left ACA was the probable because of right ACA infarcts, along with left cerebral watershed infarcts (embolic phenomenon). This represents a very important variation, as in these cases, even a unilateral ICA stenosis can lead to bilateral ACA stroke and thus necessitates urgent revascularization.

Outcomes after reperfusion therapies in patients with ACA stroke: A multicenter cohort study from the EVATRISP collaboration

BackgroundPatients with stroke secondary to occlusions of the anterior cerebral artery (ACA) often have poor outcomes. The optimal acute therapeutic intervention for these patients remains unknown. MethodsPatients with isolated ACA-stroke were identified from 10 centers participating in the EndoVascular treatment And ThRombolysis in Ischemic Stroke Patients (EVATRISP) prospective registry. Patients treated with endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) were compared to those treated with intravenous thrombolysis (IVT). Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (OR; 95%CI) were calculated using multivariate regression analysis. ResultsIncluded were 92 patients with ACA-stroke. Of the 92 ACA patients, 55 (60%) were treated with IVT only and 37 (40%) with EVT (±bridging IVT). ACA patients treated with EVT had more often wake-up stroke (24% vs. 6%, p = 0.044) and proximal ACA occlusions (43% vs. 24%, p = 0.047) and tended to have higher stroke severity on admission [NIHSS: 10.0 vs 7.0, p = 0.054). However, odds for favorable outcome, mortality or symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage did not differ significantly between both groups. Exploration of the effect of clot location inside the ACA showed that in patients with A1 or A2/A3 ACA occlusions the chances of favorable outcome were not influenced by treatment allocation to IVT or EVT. DiscussionTreatment with either IVT or EVT could be safe with similar effect in patients with ACA-strokes and these effects may be independent of clot location within the occluded ACA.

Topographic Evolution of Anterior Cerebral Artery Infarction and Its Impact on Motor Impairment

Introduction: Motor deficit is common following anterior cerebral artery (ACA) stroke. This study aimed to determine the impact on the motor outcome, given the location of descending corticofugal fiber tracts (from the primary motor cortex [M1], dorsal and ventral premotor area [PMdv], and supplementary motor area [SMA]) and the regional variations in collateral support of the ACA territory. Methods: Patients with ACA vessel occlusion were included. Disruption to corticofugal fibers was inferred by overlap of tracts with a lesion on computed tomography perfusion at the onset and on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) poststroke. The motor outcome was defined by dichotomized and combined National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) sub-scores for the arm and leg. Multivariate hierarchical partitioning was used to analyze the proportional contribution of the corticofugal fibers to the motor outcome. Results: Forty-seven patients with a median age of 77.5 (interquartile range 68.0–84.5) years were studied. At the stroke onset, 96% of patients showed evidence of motor deficit on the NIHSS, and the proportional contribution of the corticofugal fibers to motor deficit was M1-33%, SMA-33%, and PMdv-33%. By day 7, motor deficit was present in <50% of patients and contribution of M1 fiber tracts to the motor deficit was reduced (M1-10.2%, SMA-61.0%, PMdv-28.8%). We confirmed our findings using publicly available high-resolution templates created from Human Connectome Project data. This also showed a reduction in involvement of M1 fiber tracts on initial perfusion imaging (33%) compared to MRI at a median time of 7 days poststroke (11%). Conclusion: Improvements in the motor outcome seen in ACA stroke may be due to the relative sparing of M1 fiber tracts from infarction. This may occur as a consequence of the posterior location of M1 fiber tracts and the evolving topography of ACA stroke due to the compensatory capacity of leptomeningeal anastomoses.

Acute isolated anterior cerebral artery infarcts: A clinical – radiological study

Background: The anterior cerebral artery (ACA) supplies many eloquent areas and can have anatomical variations making ACA strokes clinically and radiologically challenging. This study looks at the clinical and radiological features of isolated acute ACA strokes from a stroke centre in Oman. Methods: A retrospective study conducted over a 2 year period on ACA strokes presenting within 12 hours of symptom onset. TOAST classification was used for aetiology. National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) and Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) were used to assess stroke severity. Fischer’s classification was used for assessing the arterial segments with CT angiogram. Heidelberg Bleeding Classification was used for haemorrhagic conversion. Results: Isolated ACA strokes constituted 25/1180 (2.1 %) of ischemic strokes. Males 15/25 (60%) Mean age was 68.4 years (Range 42 -97 years). Twenty eight percent of patients had earlier strokes. Hemiparesis (68%) was the commonest clinical presentation. Twenty percent had only lower limb weakness. Hypertension 22/25 (88%) followed by diabetes mellitus 12/25 (48%) was the commonest risk factor. The mean NIHSS was 9 (range 3 to 13). In 36% of patients there was progression of stroke. Plain CT Picked the infarct only in 6/24 (25%). Left side involvement in 18/25 (72%) Artery of Hubner was involved in 6/25 (24%); 44% had an embolic aetiology. There was no mortality and at discharge, 11/25 (44%) had mRS3 or less. Conclusions: In acute ACA infarcts a CT scan can miss the diagnosis in 74%. An embolic aetiology has to be considered in any Isolated ACA stroke and the outcome appears to be good.

Anterior Cerebral Artery Stroke: Role of Collateral Systems on Infarct Topography.

The circle of Willis (CoW) and leptomeningeal anastomoses play an important role in transforming infarct topography following middle cerebral artery occlusion. Their role in infarct topography following anterior cerebral artery occlusion is not well understood. The aim of this study was to evaluate the role of the CoW and leptomeningeal anastomoses in modifying regional variation in infarct topography following occlusion of the anterior cerebral artery and its branches. Perfusion and magnetic resonance imaging of patients with anterior cerebral artery stroke and evidence of vessel occlusion were segmented and manually registered to standard brain template for voxel-wise comparison. Next, a computer model of the cerebral arteries was formulated as network of nodes connected by cylindrical pipes. The experiments included occlusion of successive branches of the anterior cerebral artery while the configurations of the CoW were varied. Forty-seven patients with a median age of 77.5 years (interquartile range, 68.0–84.5 years) were studied. The regions with the highest probabilities of infarction were the superior frontal gyrus (probability =0.26) and anterior cingulate gyrus (probability =0.24). The regions around the posterior cingulate gyrus (probability =0.08), paracentral lobule (probability =0.05), precuneus and superior parietal lobule (probability =0.03) had a low probability of infarction. Following occlusions distal to the anterior communicating artery, the computer model demonstrated an increase in flow (>30%) in neighboring cortical arteries with leptomeningeal anastomoses. Traditionally the CoW has been regarded as the primary collateral system. However, our computer model shows that the CoW is only helpful in redirecting flow following proximal vessel occlusions (pre-anterior communicating artery). More important are leptomeningeal anastomoses, which play an essential role in distal vessel occlusions, influencing motor outcome by modifying the posterolateral extent of infarct topography.

Sleep assessment in infants and toddlers after arterial ischemic stroke

Sleep disturbances are significant complications of ischemic stroke. Recent studies demonstrated that sleep can facilitate neural plasticity, therefore, sleep quality could impact on post-stroke recovery. To evaluate changes in sleep characteristics in individuals with paediatric arterial ischemic stroke (PedAIS). Cohort study in small group. PedAIS group included 24 children with ischemic middle cerebral artery stroke or anterior cerebral artery stroke, who had PedAIS debut within 12 month of life or in fetal period (fetal, presumed perinatal and perinatal, pediatric stroke), confirmed by MRI. Control group included 45 typically developed children matched by sex, gestational age. Сhildren from both groups were assessed at 5, 10, 14 and 24 months. Parents of all children signed informed consent form and filled in sleeping time form. Day and night average and summary sleep duration data for both groups are demonstrated in Table 1. We have no revealed any between-group differences in characteristics of day and night sleep. The absence of sleep disturbances in children with arterial ischemic stroke is rather unexpected. At least in part, result of this work caused by the relatively high degree of subjectivity of the used method. In addition, it cannot be excluded that the sleep disturbances can be developed after period of our investigation. However, absence of pathological changes of sleep in PedAIS group might be related to typically better motor, cognitive recovery after stroke in children than in adults.

Editorial: Principles Underlying Post-Stroke Recovery of Upper Extremity Sensorimotor Function – A Neuroimaging Perspective

Editorial: Principles Underlying Post-Stroke Recovery of Upper Extremity Sensorimotor Function – A Neuroimaging Perspective

Supplementary Motor Complex and Disturbed Motor Control - a Retrospective Clinical and Lesion Analysis of Patients after Anterior Cerebral Artery Stroke.

Both the supplementary motor complex (SMC), consisting of the supplementary motor area (SMA) proper, the pre-SMA, and the supplementary eye field, and the rostral cingulate cortex are supplied by the anterior cerebral artery (ACA) and are involved in higher motor control. The Bereitschaftspotential (BP) originates from the SMC and reflects cognitive preparation processes before volitional movements. ACA strokes may lead to impaired motor control in the absence of limb weakness and evoke an alien hand syndrome (AHS) in its extreme form. To characterize the clinical spectrum of disturbed motor control after ACA strokes, including signs attributable to AHS and to identify the underlying neuroanatomical correlates. A clinical assessment focusing on signs of disturbed motor control including intermanual conflict (i.e., bilateral hand movements directed at opposite purposes), lack of self-initiated movements, exaggerated grasping, motor perseverations, mirror movements, and gait apraxia was performed. Symptoms were grouped into (A) AHS-specific and (B) non-AHS-specific signs of upper limbs, and (C) gait apraxia. Lesion summation mapping was applied to the patients' MRI or CT scans to reveal associated lesion patterns. The BP was recorded in two patients. Ten patients with ACA strokes (nine unilateral, one bilateral; mean age: 74.2 years; median NIH-SS at admission: 13.0) were included in this case series. In the acute stage, all cases had marked difficulties to perform volitional hand movements, while movements in response to external stimuli were preserved. In the chronic stage (median follow-up: 83.5 days) initiation of voluntary movements improved, although all patients showed persistent signs of disturbed motor control. Impaired motor control is predominantly associated with damaged voxels within the SMC and the anterior and medial cingulate cortex, while lesions within the pre-SMA are specifically related to AHS. No BP was detected over the damaged hemisphere. ACA strokes involving the premotor cortices, particularly the pre-SMA, are associated with AHS-specific signs. In the acute phase, motor behavior is characterized by the inability to carry out self-initiated movements. Motor control deficits may persist to a variable degree beyond the acute phase. Alterations of the BP point to an underlying SMC dysfunction in AHS.

Bilateral ascending weakness in a patient with Azygous Anterior Cerebral Artery Stroke. (P1.040)

Bilateral ascending weakness in a patient with Azygous Anterior Cerebral Artery Stroke. (P1.040)

Recovery and outcome of frontal alien hand syndrome after anterior cerebral artery stroke

Ischemic lesions within the territory of the anterior cerebral artery present with a variety of clinical signs and symptoms. Among these, frontal alien hand syndrome is rare and easily overlooked in the acute clinical setting, but significantly impacts on functional activities of daily life. Given its rareness, very little is known about its long-term outcome. To shade some more light onto this issue, clinical presentation, course of rehabilitation and outcome of two illustrative cases of frontal alien hand syndrome following anterior cerebral artery stroke are presented. Within seven and nine months from symptom onset, respectively, the clinical symptoms of frontal alien hand had resolved completely in both cases. We conclude that frontal alien hand syndrome has a favourable long-term outcome.

Unique Presentation of Akinetic Mutism and Coexisting Thyroid Storm Relating to Stroke

Akinetic mutism is described in various clinical presentations but typically is defined as a state wherein the patient appears awake but does not move or speak. It can be divided into two different subtypes; the most common subtypes depend on the lesion location, mesencephalic-diencephalic region, also called apathetic akinetic mutism (somnolent mutism), and those involving the anterior cingulate gyrus and adjacent frontal lobes called hyperpathic akinetic mutism. The pathway of akinetic mutism is believed to originate from circuits that link the frontal and subcortical structures. This case reports a 48-year-old African American female with bilateral anterior cerebral artery stroke and akinetic mutism with coexisting thyroid storm. This patient with bilateral anterior cerebral artery infarcts presented with characteristics that are typical for akinetic mutism such as having intact eye movements but an inability to respond to auditory or visual commands. With the incidence of bilateral anterior cerebral artery (ACA) ischemic stroke being rare and the incidence of akinetic mutism secondary to ischemic stroke even rarer, we suspect that this patient potentially had a unilateral occlusion of anomalous anterior cerebral vasculature.

E-016 Enterprise stent assisted coil embolization of cerebral aneurysms

IntroductionCerebral aneurysms have morphometric features that influence the initial and long term success of coil embolization. Advances in coil assist technology now permit endovascular treatment of previously uncoilable aneurysms. We...

Infarction in the territory of the anterior cerebral artery: clinical study of 51 patients

BackgroundLittle is known about clinical features and prognosis of patients with ischaemic stroke caused by infarction in the territory of the anterior cerebral artery (ACA). This single centre, retrospective study was conducted with the following objectives: a) to describe the clinical characteristics and short-term outcome of stroke patients with ACA infarction as compared with that of patients with ischaemic stroke due to middle cerebral artery (MCA) and posterior cerebral artery (PCA) infarctions, and b) to identify predictors of ACA stroke.MethodsFifty-one patients with ACA stroke were included in the "Sagrat Cor Hospital of Barcelona Stroke Registry" during a period of 19 years (1986–2004). Data from stroke patients are entered in the stroke registry following a standardized protocol with 161 items regarding demographics, risk factors, clinical features, laboratory and neuroimaging data, complications and outcome. The characteristics of these 51 patients with ACA stroke were compared with those of the 1355 patients with MCA infarctions and 232 patients with PCA infarctions included in the registry.ResultsInfarctions of the ACA accounted for 1.3% of all cases of stroke (n = 3808) and 1.8% of cerebral infarctions (n = 2704). Stroke subtypes included cardioembolic infarction in 45.1% of patients, atherothrombotic infarction in 29.4%, lacunar infarct in 11.8%, infarct of unknown cause in 11.8% and infarction of unusual aetiology in 2%. In-hospital mortality was 7.8% (n = 4). Only 5 (9.8%) patients were symptom-free at hospital discharge. Speech disturbances (odds ratio [OR] = 0.48) and altered consciousness (OR = 0.31) were independent variables of ACA stroke in comparison with MCA infarction, whereas limb weakness (OR = 9.11), cardioembolism as stroke mechanism (OR = 2.49) and sensory deficit (OR = 0.35) were independent variables associated with ACA stroke in comparison with PCA infarction.ConclusionCardioembolism is the main cause of brain infarction in the territory of the ACA. Several clinical features are more frequent in stroke patients with ACA infarction than in patients with ischaemic stroke due to infarction in the MCA and PCA territories.

Anosognosia for Right Hemiplegia from Dominant Anterior Cerebral Artery Stroke

Anosognosia for Right Hemiplegia from Dominant Anterior Cerebral Artery Stroke

Clinical Features and Rehabilitation of Strokes in the Less Common Vascular Territories: Anterior and Posterior Cerebral Artery Strokes

Stroke is a common and important clinical condition encountered in rehabilitation. However, anterior cerebral artery (ACA) and posterior cerebral artery (PCA) stroke are the less frequently managed stroke subtypes due to their lower incidence compared to strokes in other vascular territories. Despite this, both ACA and PCA stroke present with cognitive, sensory, and motor impairments not found in other stroke groups. These include akinetic mutism, alien-hand syndromes, and the callosal disconnection syndromes in ACA stroke, as well as various visual impairments, central poststroke pain, and dyslexia syndromes seen in PCA stroke. Many of the common impairments seen in general stroke rehabilitation such as behavioral, balance, and continence disorders manifest in different, unique presentations that are often unrecognized. In this review, we focus on the specific clinical signs, symptoms, and resultant impairments and disabilities that occur in ACA and PCA stroke. We also discuss and summarize recent developments in rehabilitation interventions and therapeutics aimed at alleviating the significant disability posed by these less commonly seen stroke disorders. Finally, we report the functional outcomes of ACA and PCA stroke and compare them with strokes in other vascular territories. Encouragingly, patients with ACA and PCA stroke make significant functional gains with a comprehensive, holistic, and individualized stroke rehabilitation program.