Hemispheric Ischemic Stroke Research Articles

Plasma Levels of Neuron/Glia-Derived Apoptotic Bodies, an In Vivo Biomarker of Apoptosis, Predicts Infarct Growth and Functional Outcome in Patients with Ischemic Stroke.

Evidence demonstrating the involvement of apoptosis in the death of the potentially salvageable area (penumbra zone) in patients during stroke remains limited. Our aim was to investigate whether apoptotic processes occur in penumbral brain tissue by analyzing circulating neuron- and glia-derived apoptotic bodies (CNS-ApBs), which are vesicles released into the bloodstream during the late stage of apoptosis. We have also assessed the clinical utility of plasma neuronal and glial apoptotic bodies in predicting early neurological evolution and functional outcome. The study included a total of 71 patients with acute hemispheric ischemic stroke (73 ± 10years; 30 women). Blood samples were collected from these patients immediately upon arrival at the hospital (within 9h) and at 24 and 72h after symptom onset. Subsequently, isolation, quantification, and phenotypic characterization of CNS-ApBs during the first 72h post-stroke were performed using centrifugation and flow cytometry techniques. We found a correlation between infarct growth and final infarct size with the amount of plasma CNS-ApBs detected in the first 72h after stroke. In addition, patients with neurological worsening (progressive ischemic stroke) had higher plasma levels of CNS-ApBs at 24h after symptom onset than those with a stable or improving course. Circulating CNS-ApB concentration was further associated with patients' functional prognosis. In conclusion, apoptosis may play an important role in the growth of the cerebral infarct area and plasma CNS-ApB quantification could be used as a predictive marker of penumbra death, neurological deterioration, and functional outcome in patients with ischemic stroke.

Prognostic value of blood pressure in the acute period of hemispheric ischemic stroke

Aim. To study changes in blood pressure (BP) in patients with acute hemispheric ischemic stroke (AIS), to correlate BP in patients with AIS with BP in patients with chronic brain ischemia, and to study the association of various BP indices with stroke severity and recovery.Material and methods. We included 235 patients with hemispheric AIS (age 64±11 years; women, 41,3%). BP was assessed 6 times as follows: by patient’s self-measurement during the month before the stroke onset, in the ambulance, in the admission department, in the intensive care unit using 24-hour blood pressure monitoring (BPM), in the neurologic department (BPM), and 90 days after stroke. In patients with chronic cerebral ischemia (178 patients, age 62±13 years, 46,1% women), BP was assessed 3 times: by patient’s self-measurement during the month before hospitalization, in the admission department, and in the neurologic department (BPM).Results. Patients with AIS within the month before stroke had higher systolic and pulse pressure than patients with chronic cerebral ischemia. During the acute stroke period, patients with AIS despite reaching target systolic and diastolic BP had significantly increased variability of systolic and diastolic BP compared to patients with chronic brain ischemia. Systolic BP ≥160 mm Hg recorded consecutively in ambulance, in admission department, and in intensive care unit, as well as pulse pressure ≥60 mm Hg, and systolic BP variability ≥18 mm Hg recorded on day 1-2 and day 9-10, positively correlated with National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score (r≥0,37, p≤0,0017) on day 10 and with modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score (r≥0,29, p≤0,006) on day 90.Conclusion. Patients with hemispheric AIS had significantly higher systolic BP and pulse pressure within the month before stroke. During the first 10 days of AIS persistent increase in systolic, diastolic, and pulse pressure, and BP variability was associated with more severe stroke and less favorable outcome. These results should be taken into account when administering antihypertensive treatment.

A Case Report of Stroke-like Syndrome: Tuberculous Encephalopathy

Background: Stroke-like syndrome is a stroke mimic, usually common in the young and accurate diagnosis has considerable impact in terms of treatment choices and outcomes. Objectives: To emphasise the need for high index of suspicion and the need for multidisciplinary approach and accurate diagnosis of stroke-like syndrome. Case Report: 32 years old woman who presented with recurrent headache of a year duration with right upper limb weakness of 3 months that later involved lower limb 1month and inability to talk 2 days to presentation. Examination revealed a young woman, conscious but aphasic, emaciated, afebrile, anicteric and nil pedal oedema. Neurological findings includes expressive aphasia, right facioparesis and right hemiparesis. Other systemic examinations were essentially normal. A diagnosis of left hemispheric ischaemic stroke was initially entertained. Brain computerized tomography revealed infarct involving the left frontal and temporal lobes but Echocardiography revealed Tuberculous pericarditis, a suspicion of stroke mimic of infective origin was entertained. Diagnosis was confirmed by ‘trial of treatment’ of anti-tuberculosis, which resulted in dramatic resolution of symptoms within 4 weeks of anti-tuberculosis drugs. Conclusion: There is need for high index of suspicion, accurate diagnosis and multidisciplinary approach for appropriate treatment choices and outcomes.

The relationship between the development of post-stroke cognitive impairment and changes in the coagulation component of hemostasis

To evaluate the relationship between the severity of post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) and coagulation parameters assessed using the dynamic thrombophotometry. Thirty-five patients with hemispheric ischemic stroke (IS) with moderate neurological deficit at admission were included. All patients underwent a comprehensive clinical and instrumental assessment according to the current guidelines. On days 10-14, the cognitive status of patients was assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Coagulation parameters were assessed using the dynamic thrombophotometry at admission, on 6-8th days and 13-15th days from the onset of the disease. A database of laboratory studies of 30 apparently healthy volunteers was used as a comparison group. Data analysis revealed that a number of spatial and temporal parameters were within the reference values, and there were no significant changes over time. Nevertheless, though the optical density of the fibrin clot (D) was within the reference values, it showed a steady increase from the admission by the end of the 1st week of the disease (p=0.007) and by 13-15th days (p=0.009). Correlation and multivariate linear regression, including baseline stroke symptom severity, showed significant associations (p<0.01 in all tests) between the higher optical density of the fibrin clot (D) on days 6-8 and 13-15 and lower MoCA score, confirming the negative effect of altered hemostatic parameters on cognitive function in IS patients. The increase of optical density of the fibrin clot (D) by 6-8th and 13-15th days is a potential prognostic biomarker for the early development of PSCI.

Клиническое разнообразие афатических нарушений у больных в остром периоде ишемического полушарного инсульта. Взгляд невролога

Aphasia syndrome is a frequently diagnosed disorder in patients with acute cerebrovascular accident (ACVA), which is of great interest for study, since it affects all areas of human mental activity and has a number of distinctive features from aphasias of other etiologies. The article presents a literature review of speech disorders and describes the authors’ own observations of patients in the acute period of ischemic hemispheric stroke in the left middle cerebral artery basin suffering from various types of aphasic disorders.

Multivariate lesion symptom mapping for predicting trajectories of recovery from aphasia.

Individuals with post-stroke aphasia tend to recover their language to some extent; however, it remains challenging to reliably predict the nature and extent of recovery that will occur in the long term. The aim of this study was to quantitatively predict language outcomes in the first year of recovery from aphasia across multiple domains of language and at multiple timepoints post-stroke. We recruited 217 patients with aphasia following acute left hemisphere ischaemic or haemorrhagic stroke and evaluated their speech and language function using the Quick Aphasia Battery acutely and then acquired longitudinal follow-up data at up to three timepoints post-stroke: 1 month (n = 102), 3 months (n = 98) and 1 year (n = 74). We used support vector regression to predict language outcomes at each timepoint using acute clinical imaging data, demographic variables and initial aphasia severity as input. We found that ∼60% of the variance in long-term (1 year) aphasia severity could be predicted using these models, with detailed information about lesion location importantly contributing to these predictions. Predictions at the 1- and 3-month timepoints were somewhat less accurate based on lesion location alone, but reached comparable accuracy to predictions at the 1-year timepoint when initial aphasia severity was included in the models. Specific subdomains of language besides overall severity were predicted with varying but often similar degrees of accuracy. Our findings demonstrate the feasibility of using support vector regression models with leave-one-out cross-validation to make personalized predictions about long-term recovery from aphasia and provide a valuable neuroanatomical baseline upon which to build future models incorporating information beyond neuroanatomical and demographic predictors.

Shorter Reperfusion Time in Stroke is Associated with Better Cognition.

Cognitive changes that result from cerebrovascular disease contribute to a poor functional outcome with reduced quality of life. Among patients undergoing endovascular therapy (EVT), we aim to assess cognitive function and evaluate the impact of reperfusion time in cognitive performance. Patients with acute right anterior circulation strokes that underwent EVT between January 2018 and August 2020 at Centro Hospitalar de Vila Nova de Gaia/Espinho, participated in the study. Modified treatment in cerebral infarction (mTICI) assessed the level of recanalization. Cognitive evaluation was assessed with Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination revised (ACE-R). Multiple linear regression analyses were used to determine the association between time for recanalization and ACE-R. The level of significance adopted was 0.05. The mean age of participants was 71.5 (interquartile range [IQR] 62.0-78.2) years, and 50% (22) were women. The median time after stroke was 28.6 months (IQR 18.94-31.55). All patients in our sample had a successful level of recanalization with EVT (mTICI ≥ 2b). Time for recanalization showed an inverse association with the ACE-R (b = -0.0207, P = 0.0203). Also the mRS at 3 months had an inverse association with cognition (b = -5.2803, p = 0.0095). Level of education had a strong and direct relationship with ACE-R results (b = 3.0869, p < 0.0001). Longer time between stroke symptoms and recanalization with EVT in patients with right hemisphere ischemic stroke lead to lower ACE-R scores. Measures to improve door-to-recanalization time are also important for cognitive performance after ischemic stroke.

White Matter Hyperintensities on Post-Stroke Balance and Gait Recovery: A Prospective Cohort Study Protocol

Introduction: White matter hyperintensities (WMH) are commonly associated with balance and gait disturbances. Little is known whether WMH may affect post-stroke balance and gait recovery. We aim to investigate the association of post-stroke balance and gait recovery with imaging marker of WMH on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Methods: This prospective cohort study will enroll consecutive patients with first-ever ischemic hemisphere stroke, between September 2023 and December 2024. Clinical data will be collected on day 30 ± 3 and at 3 months after stroke onset. WMH on FLAIR are graded according to the modified Fazekas scale. Resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) will be acquired to evaluate functional and structural connectivity. The primary endpoint is balance recovery, defined as a Postural Assessment Scale for Stroke score of 32 or higher at 3 months. The secondary endpoint is gait recovery, assessed using the modified Fugl-Meyer Gait Assessment at 3 months. We will investigate the association of post-stroke balance and gait recovery with WMH severity as well as WMH-related functional and structural connectivity. Conclusion: The study may contribute to clarify the effect of WMH on post-stroke balance and gait disorder recovery.

STUDY OF CENTRAL HEMODYNAMICS IN THE ACUTE PERIOD OF HEMISPHERIC ISCHEMIC STROKE WITH CONCOMITANT CARDIAC PATHOLOGY

This article analyzes and discusses the topic of studying central hemodynamics during the acute period of hemispheric ischemic stroke accompanied by heart pathology.

Longitudinal evolution of diffusion metrics after left hemisphere ischaemic stroke

Abstract White matter is often severely affected after human ischaemic stroke. While animal studies have suggested that various factors may contribute to white matter structural damage after ischaemic stroke, the characterization of damaging processes to the affected hemisphere after human stroke remains poorly understood. Thus, the present study aims to thoroughly describe the longitudinal pattern of evolution of diffusion magnetic resonance imaging metrics in different parts of the ipsilesional white matter after stroke. We acquired diffusion and anatomical images in 17 patients who had suffered from a single left hemisphere ischaemic stroke, at 24–72 h, 8–14 days and 6 months post-stroke. For each patient, we created three regions of interest: (i) the white matter lesion; (ii) the perilesional white matter; and (iii) the remaining white matter of the left hemisphere. We extracted diffusion metrics (fractional anisotropy, mean, axial and radial diffusivities) for each region and conducted two-way repeated measures ANOVAs with stage post-stroke (acute, subacute and chronic) × regions of interest (white matter lesion, perilesional white matter and remaining white matter). Fractional anisotropy values stayed consistent across time-points, with significantly lower values in the white matter lesion compared to the perilesional white matter and remaining white matter tissue. Fractional anisotropy values of the perilesional white matter were also significantly lower than that of the remaining white matter. Mean, axial and radial diffusivities in the white matter lesion were all decreased in the acute stage compared to perilesional white matter and remaining white matter, but significantly increased in both the subacute and chronic stages. Significant increases in mean and radial diffusivities in the perilesional white matter were seen in the later stages of stroke. Our findings suggest that various physiological processes are at play in the acute, subacute and chronic stages following ischaemic stroke, with the infarct territory and perilesional white matter affected by ischaemia at different rates and to different extents throughout the stroke recovery stages. The examination of multiple diffusivity metrics may inform us about the mechanisms occurring at different time-points, i.e. focal swelling, axonal damage or myelin loss.

Immediate Effects of Anti-Spastic Epidural Cervical Spinal Cord Stimulation on Functional Connectivity of the Central Motor System in Patients with Stroke- and Traumatic Brain Injury-Induced Spasticity: A Pilot Resting-State Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study.

Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) is one approach to the potential improvement of patients with post-stroke or post-traumatic spasticity. However, little is known about whether and how such interventions alter supraspinal neural systems involved in the pathogenesis of spasticity. This pilot study investigated whether epidural spinal cord stimulation at the level of the C3-C5 cervical segments, aimed at reducing spasticity, alters the patterns of functional connectivity of the brain. Eight patients with spasticity in the right limbs as a result of left cerebral hemisphere damage (due to hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke or traumatic and anoxic brain injury) were assessed with fMRI immediately before and immediately after short-term (1 to 6 days) test cervical epidural SCS therapy. Eight demographically and clinically comparable patients with spasticity in the right extremities due to a left hemisphere ischemic stroke and brain injury who received conventional therapy were examined as a control group. All patients also had paresis of one or two limbs and hyperreflexia. After the SCS therapy, there were three main findings: (1) higher functional connectivity of the brainstem to the right premotor cortex and changes in functional connectivity between cortical motor areas, (2) increased functional connectivity between the right and left lateral nodes of the sensorimotor network, and (3) a positive correlation between decreased spasticity in the right leg and increased functional connectivity within the right hemisphere sensorimotor cortex. All these changes in functional connectivity occurred with a statistically significant decrease in spasticity, as assessed using the modified Ashworth scale. The control group showed no decrease in spasticity or increase in functional connectivity in any of the seeds of interest. On the contrary, a decrease in functional connectivity of the brainstem and right postcentral gyrus was observed in this group during the observation period. We were thus able to detect intrinsic brain connectivity rearrangements that occurred during spasticity mitigation following short epidural SCS therapy. The clinical results obtained confirmed the efficacy of short-term anti-spastic SCS therapy. The obtained data on functional rearrangements of the central motor system may shed light on the mechanism of antispastic action of this procedure.

Association of Circumscribed Subcortical Gray and White Matter Lesions With Apraxic Deficits in Patients With Left Hemisphere Stroke.

Apraxia is commonly attributed to left hemisphere (LH) lesions of the cortical fronto-temporo-parietal praxis networks or white matter lesions causing disconnections between cortical nodes. By contrast, the contribution of lesions to the subcortical gray matter, that is, basal ganglia or thalamus, to apraxic deficits remains controversial. Here, we investigate whether damage to these subcortical gray matter structures (i.e., caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus, and thalamus) or the adjacent white matter tracts was associated with apraxic deficits. We identified patients with distinct subcortical lesions with and without apraxia from a large retrospective sample of subacute LH ischemic stroke patients (n = 194). To test which subcortical structures (caudate nucleus, putamen, globus pallidus, thalamus, and adjacent white matter tracts), when lesioned, contributed to apraxic deficits, we statistically compared the proportion of lesioned voxels within subcortical gray and white matter structures between the apraxic and nonapraxic patients. Of the 194 stroke patients screened, 39 (median age = 65 years, range 30-82 years; median time poststroke at the apraxia assessment = 7 days, range 1-44 days) had lesions confined to subcortical regions (gray and white matter). Eleven patients showed apraxic deficits when imitating gestures or pantomiming object use. Region-wise statistical lesion comparison (controlled for lesion size) revealed a more significant proportion of damage ('lesion load') in the caudate nucleus in apraxic stroke patients (mean difference = 6.9%, 95% CI 0.4-13.3, p = 0.038, η p 2 = 0.11). By contrast, apraxic patients had lower lesion load in the globus pallidus (mean difference = 9.9%, 95% CI 0.1-19.8, p = 0.048, η p 2 = 0.10), whereas the lesion load in other subcortical structures (putamen, thalamus, and adjacent white matter tracts) did not differ significantly between the apraxic and nonapraxic patients. These findings provide new insights into the subcortical anatomy of apraxia after LH stroke, suggesting a specific contribution of caudate nucleus lesions to apraxic deficits.

FEATURES OF THE PSYCHO-EMOTIONAL SPHERE IN PATIENTS WITH HEMISPHERIC ISCHEMIC STROKE DEPENDING ON THE PRESENCE OF COVID-19 IN HISTORY

This article discusses the features of the psycho-emotional sphere in patients with hemispheric ischemic stroke depending on the presence of COVID-19 in history. The hemodynamic subtype was excluded from the study due to the small number of patients, IS of unspecified etiology - due to the possibly heterogeneous structure of the pathogenesis of IS.

Abstract WMP32: Changes In Word Frequency And Articulatory Complexity In Aphasic Discourse Over The First 6 Months After Stroke

Most people with aphasia (PWA) improve in content of discourse over the first 6 months of stroke, but the extent to which increased content is compensatory, by learning to use more frequent or less complex words, is unknown. We hypothesized that PWA who improve in content units (CU; concepts produced by healthy speakers in describing the picture) in picture description show an increase in word frequency and decrease in articulatory complexity from acute stroke to 3 and 6 months. Methods: PWA &lt;5 days of left hemisphere ischemic stroke (n=35) and age-matched controls (n=48) described the NIHSS picture. Patients were retested at 3 and 6 months post-stroke. We evaluated CU, articulatory complexity (https://unccard.shinyapps.io/shiny-woRdcomplex-2/) and word frequency (log10 frequency among 51 million words+1) each time. We used 2-tailed t-tests to compare groups and paired t-tests to evaluate changes from 0 to 3 and from 0 to 6 months after stroke. Results: Compared to controls, PWA produced fewer CU (mean 19.4 vs 47.6; t (df81) = 7.9; p&lt;0.00001), with lower articulatory complexity (mean 3.0 vs 3.5; t (df81) = 2.8; p=0.006) and lower frequency (3.0 vs 3.3; t(df81) = 2.1; p=0.04) acutely. The 20 participants who improved in CU at 3 months showed an increase in word frequency at 3 months (mean 2.7 to 3.4; t (df19)= -2.0, p= 0.03), while those who failed to improve in CU showed no change. The 19 patients who improved at 6 months also tended increase in word frequency (from 3.0 to 3.5; t (df18)= -1.6; p= 0.07), while those who failed to improve showed a decrease (from 3.4 to 2.7; ns). Those who improved in CU showed an increase in articulatory complexity (mean 2.7 to 3.5, t(df18)= -2.3; p=0.03) at 3 months and 6 months (mean 3.3). Those who failed to improve in CU showed the opposite trend toward decrease in complexity (mean 3.3 acutely, 3.1 at 3 months, and 2.4 at 6 months; ns). Conclusions: Improved content in discourse by aphasic individuals over the first 6 months after stroke may in part reflect compensation by selecting more frequent words or increased function words (e.g. prepositions - which are high frequency) to describe a picture. Those who improve in content show an increase in articulatory complexity of words, indicating that increased complexity reflects improvement.

Effectiveness of rehabilitation with virtual reality and biofeedback in recovery of hand function after stroke

To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the rehabilitation glove (RG) with virtual reality (VR) and biofeedback (BFB) on recovery of the hand function in patients during the late recovery period after first hemispheric ischemic stroke (IS). The study was randomized and controlled. One hundred and six patients (age 58.8±4.3 years, time after stroke onset - 8.7±2.1 months) were included in the final analysis. The intervention group (n=56) received rehabilitation with RG and VR. The control group (n=50) received individualized physical therapy. The primary end points were a change in the Fugl-Meyer scale score (FMA-UE), in the Action Research Arm Test (ARAT), and in the nine holes peg test (NHPT). Secondary end points included changes in MRCS, MAS, MoCA, HADS, modified Barthel index (MBI) and quality of life (EQ-5D-5L). Improvement of the motor function in the intervention group on FMA-UE scale (an increase of ≥7 points in sections A-D) was observed in 46.4% of patients, on ARAT (an increase of ≥5 points) in 53.6% of patients. There was a significant decrease in time from 36.8±6.3 sec. to 22.0±3.9 sec. on NHPT. A negative correlation was observed between the average ARAT score and anxiety (r=-0.7; p<0.05) and depression (r=-0.67; p<0.05). There was also a significant increase in EQ-5D-5L (VAS) by the end of rehabilitation in both groups with better scores in the intervention group (p=0.03). Rehabilitation based on VR, RG, and BFB is effective in the rehabilitation of dexterous hand function in patients with first hemispheric IS.

A CASE OF ACCELERATED RIGOR MORTIS

Introduction. Rigor mortis is the tension of skeletal and smooth muscles that occurs after death and fixes the body in a certain position. It is one of the signs of biological death and usually develops in 1.5 - 3 hours, starting from the lower jaw. The full development of rigor mortis is observed in 12 - 24 hours after death. But in rare cases, its development can be significantly accelerated. Clinical case. A 34-year-old man was in the department of anesthesiology and intensive care for 4 days with a diagnosis of explosive trauma, neck injury with damage to the right carotid artery, hemispheric ischemic stroke. In the setting of multiple organ failure, moderate coma, central hyperthermia (40.3 °C), resistant to antipyretics, he went into a cardiac arrest. Resuscitation measures (including triple defibrillation) for 50 minutes were without effect. During the ascertainment of biological death, the presence of rigor mortis was noted in the lower jaw, neck and extremities, which was absent during the first 30 minutes of resuscitation and at the beginning of the asystolic rhythm. Discussion. The occurrence of rigor mortis is explained by the release of calcium ions from myocytes and the depletion of muscle adenosine triphosphate, which leads to the formation of a stable bond between actin and myosin. Instant or accelerated rigor mortis is rare. According to the literature, high body temperature, strenuous exercise before death, electric shock, convulsions and muscular dystrophy contribute to the acceleration of rigor mortis. Conclusions. In our case, the patient had severe hyperthermia (40.3 ° C), and defibrillation was performed during resuscitation, ie the body was exposed to electric current. Probably, these factors caused the accelerated development of rigor mortis.

Right and left asymmetry in sleep efficiency in polysomnography of hemispheric ischemic stroke – preliminary evidence

Right and left asymmetry in sleep efficiency in polysomnography of hemispheric ischemic stroke – preliminary evidence

A Complex Case: Patient with Elevated Lp(a) and Debilitating Stroke

Lead Author's Financial Disclosures Nothing to disclose. Study Funding None. Background/Synopsis DES, 43-year-old male, is referred for elevated lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)), status-post ischemic left hemispheric stroke. There are potential interventions but insufficient evidence to make strong recommendations. Objective/Purpose To determine an appropriate treatment plan tailored to DES' situation. Methods This is a review of treatment options, barriers to care, and ethical considerations rendering this scenario complex. Results DES' medical history includes obesity, smoker, type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, legal blindness, and subsequent ischemic left hemispheric stroke with residual global aphasia and right-sided hemiparesis. DES will remain a long-term care facility resident. He was referred by neurology after identifying an Lp(a) level greater than three times the upper limit of normal. Prior to initiating atorvastatin 80mg daily, DES' lipid levels are identified in Table 1. The 2018 AHA/ACC/Multisociety Guideline on the Management of Blood Cholesterol (1) supports using Lp(a) as a risk-enhancing factor to inform clinical decision-making, preventing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in adults with at least 5% 10-year ASCVD risk, per the Pooled Cohort Equation. The National Lipid Association (NLA) Statement: Use of Lipoprotein(a) in Clinical Practice (2), supports testing Lp(a) in younger patients with prior cardiovascular events (CVE) and intensive low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) lowering, especially with proprotein convertase subtilisin-kexin 9 (PCSK9) monoclonal antibodies. The NLA mentions FDA criteria for lipoprotein-apheresis. Ongoing investigations of Lp(a)-lowering pharmacotherapy involve our program's HORIZON study of pelacarsen (3), testing whether it is superior to placebo in reducing CVE's in adults with prior myocardial infarction, stroke, symptomatic peripheral arterial disease, plus elevated Lp(a). Conclusions We considered whether additional preventive strategies directed at DES' Lp(a) is worthwhile after a debilitating stroke. Guidelines do not recommend care beyond closely monitoring lipid levels. Apheresis becomes available when LDL-C is greater than 110mg/dL, per FDA criteria. Participation in clinical decision-making and randomized placebo controlled clinical trials (RCT) is problematic. The team recommended closely monitoring lipid levels, but did not recommend additional pharmacotherapy, apheresis or RCTs. DES' diminished functional capacity, incomplete social support as a long-term care facility resident, and unclear indications for additional therapy guided our decision-making. DES' scenario enabled a discussion regarding clinical decision-making, clinician-patient discussions, patient engagement, socioeconomic/racial disparities, and limitations of guidelines within caring for complex patients. Nothing to disclose.

Transcatheter mitral valve edge-to-edge repair in patients with severe mitral regurgitation: data from the MitraClip Russia Trial

Aim. To study the immediate and short-term outcomes of transcatheter mitral valve edge-to-edge repair with the MitraClip NT in patients with severe mitral regurgitation as part of the MitraClip Russia prospective single-center study.Material and methods. The study included 16 patients (men, 10; women, 6) with mean age of 70,1±2,1 years (mean Euroscore II, 6,90±5,56%; STS, 6,33±3,94%). Immediate technical success was defined as successful access, delivery, and removal of the device, and adequate placing the clip(s) to reduce the mitral regurgitation to grade 2 or below without the need for device- or procedure-related reintervention.Results. Immediate technical success was achieved in all patients. The average number of implanted clips per 1 patient was 1,7. In 1 patient (6,3%), a clip was attached to one mitral leaflet, which required an non-scheduled implantation of a second clip. In hospital mortality was 6,3%: a 92-year-old patient on the 3rd day after the operation had a sudden cardiac arrest followed by coma, hemispheric ischemic stroke and death on the 6th day. An autopsy revealed an iatrogenic atrial septal defect. Echocardiography performed on the 10th and 30th day after surgery showed a decrease in mitral regurgitation grade in 15 patients, while grade 3 residual mitral regurgitation did not reveal in any patient.Conclusion. Transcatheter mitral valve edge-to-edge repair with the MitraClip is a minimally invasive method for treating severe symptomatic mitral regurgitation (degenerative and functional). The results demonstrate high immediate efficacy and an acceptable safety profile in high surgical risk patients. Based on the analysis of death causes, the authors conclude that it is necessary to include initial pulmonary hypertension above 75 mm Hg as a relative contraindication to this procedure. The study limitations are the small sample size and short follow-up period.

Dopplerographic features of venous cerebral blood flow disorders in acute period of ischemic stroke

The article analyzes results of a Doppler study of brachiocephalic vessels in the acute period of ischemic stroke. The role of the venous link of blood flow in maintaining the intracerebral constant in the acute period of ischemic stroke was revealed. The features of the reactivity of cerebral venous hemodynamics in patients with different volumes of brain damage during the formation of ischemic foci of various localization are shown. Attention is paid to the importance of a comprehensive assessment of cerebral venous circulation in the acute period of ischemic stroke. It was shown that in patients with ischemic stroke involving one or two lobes of one hemisphere of the brain, there was a significant increase in the size of the areas and a significant decrease in the speed indicators in the internal jugular and vertebral veins, respectively, the localization of the ischemic focus. It was found that in hemispheric ischemic strokes with signs of cerebral edema, cerebral blood flow disturbances were maximal and were accompanied by a paradoxical reaction of hemodynamic compensatory mechanisms, but no lateralization of dysgemia was observed according to the focus of ischemia.