Outcome In Ischemic Stroke Patients Research Articles

Association Between Total Cholesterol and 5 year Mortality in Patients with Carotid Artery Stenosis and Poststroke Functional Dependence

Background: Aggressive lipid-lowering treatment reduces the risk of cardiovascular events, but remains controversial in stroke patients. We investigate the influence of total cholesterol level on 5-year outcomes of ischemic stroke patients with high-grade internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis and poststroke functional dependence.Methods: One-hundred and ninety-six acute ischemic stroke patients with high-grade ICA stenosis and modified Rankin Scale score ≥ 3 upon discharge were enrolled and prospectively observed for 5 years. Patients were divided into 2 groups according to total cholesterol level at admission: ≥200 mg/dL or <200 mg/dL. Demographic features, vascular risk factors, co-morbidities, and outcomes were compared between the 2 groups. Results: 117 (59.7%) patients had higher and 79 (40.3%) patients had lower total cholesterol levels. The prevalence of older age and atrial fibrillation was significantly higher in patients with lower total cholesterol; the prevalence of diabetes mellitus was higher in patients with higher total cholesterol. After adjusting for the established clinical predictors of adverse outcomes, the multivariate Cox regression revealed that lower total cholesterol level is a significant predictor of 5-year mortality (HR (hazard ratio) = 1.88, 95% CI (confidence interval) = 1.09-3.23, P = .023). Conclusions: Lower total cholesterol level is associated with increased risk of 5-year mortality in ischemic stroke patients with high-grade ICA stenosis and post-stroke functional dependence. Aggressive treatment of hyperlipidemia should be carefully considered in these patients although it could reduce the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases and stroke recurrence in some stroke patients.

Effect of White Matter Hyperintensity on the Functional Outcome of Ischemic Stroke Patients after Inpatient Stroke Rehabilitation

Effect of White Matter Hyperintensity on the Functional Outcome of Ischemic Stroke Patients after Inpatient Stroke Rehabilitation

Hypothermia treatment ameliorated cyclin-dependent kinase 5-mediated inflammation in ischemic stroke and improved outcomes in ischemic stroke patients

OBJECTIVES:The inflammatory response is a key mechanism of neuronal damage and loss during acute ischemic stroke. Hypothermia has shown promise as a treatment for ischemic stroke. In this study, we investigated the molecular signaling pathways in ischemic stroke after hypothermia treatment.METHODS:Cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5) was overexpressed or silenced in cultured cells. Nuclear transcription factor-κB (NF-κB) activity was assessed by measurement of the luciferase reporter gene. An ischemic stroke model was established in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats using the suture-occluded method. Animals were assigned to three groups: sham operation control, ischemic stroke, and ischemic stroke + hypothermia treatment groups. Interleukin 1β (IL-1β) levels in the culture supernatant and blood samples were assessed by ELISA. Protein expression was measured by Western blotting.RESULTS:In HEK293 cells and primary cortical neuronal cultures exposed to hypothermia, CDK5 overexpression was associated with increased IL-1β, caspase 1, and NF-κB levels. In both a murine model of stroke and in patients, increased IL-1β levels were observed after stroke, and hypothermia treatment was associated with lower IL-1β levels. Furthermore, hypothermia-treated patients showed significant improvement in neurophysiological functional outcome.CONCLUSIONS:Overall, hypothermia offers clinical benefit, most likely through its effects on the inflammatory response.

Multiple biomarkers covering distinct pathways for predicting outcomes after ischemic stroke.

To study the prognostic significance of multiple novel biomarkers in combination after ischemic stroke. We derived data from the China Antihypertensive Trial in Acute Ischemic Stroke, and 12 informative biomarkers were measured. The primary outcome was the combination of death and major disability (modified Rankin Scale score ≥3) at 3 months after ischemic stroke, and secondary outcomes included major disability, death, and vascular events. In 3,405 participants, 866 participants (25.4%) experienced major disability or died within 3 months. In multivariable analyses, elevated high-sensitive C-reactive protein, complement C3, matrix metalloproteinase-9, hepatocyte growth factor, and antiphosphatidylserine antibodies were individually associated with the primary outcome. Participants with a larger number of elevated biomarkers had increased risk of all study outcomes. The adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) of participants with 5 elevated biomarkers were 3.88 (2.05-7.36) for the primary outcome, 2.81 (1.49-5.33) for major disability, 5.67 (1.09-29.52) for death, and 4.00 (1.22-13.14) for vascular events, compared to those with no elevated biomarkers. Simultaneously adding these 5 biomarkers to the basic model with traditional risk factors led to substantial reclassification for the combined outcome (net reclassification improvement 28.5%, p < 0.001; integrated discrimination improvement 2.2%, p < 0.001) and vascular events (net reclassification improvement 37.0%, p = 0.001; integrated discrimination improvement 0.8%, p = 0.001). We observed a clear gradient relationship between the numbers of elevated novel biomarkers and risk of major disability, mortality, and vascular events. Incorporation of a combination of multiple biomarkers observed substantially improved the risk stratification for adverse outcomes in ischemic stroke patients.

The Clinical Outcome Comparison of Ischemic Stroke with and without Ischemic Heart Disease

Aim: Ischemic heart disease and stroke are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Ischemic stroke and ischemic heart disease have similar pathophysiological mechanisms and risk factors. Ischemic heart disease patients are associated with increased morbidity and mortality, but the studies describing outcomes of ischemic heart disease in ischemic stroke patients are a lack. This is the first study to correlate ischemic heart disease in ischemic stroke with length of stay and functional outcome by using modified Rankin Scale (mRS). This study aims to compare the clinical outcome of ischemic stroke patients with ischemic heart disease and without ischemic heart disease. Methods: This retrospective cohort study of 200 patients were first incident acute ischemic stroke recorded in the Bethesda Hospital Yogyakarta Stroke Registry (2012-2017). These patients were divided into ischemic stroke patients with ischemic heart disease and ischemic stroke patients without ischemic heart disease. The primary outcomes of the study was in-hospital mortality, disability measured by modified Rankin Scale (mRS), and length of stay. The data were analyzed bivariate followed by the Chi-square test and Mann-Whitney. Results: Data of 200 patients with 100 stroke patients with ischemic heart disease consist of fifty-eight male (58.0%) and eighty-six (86.0%) were more than 50 years old. Compare to 100 stroke patients without ischemic heart disease consist of fifty-eight male (58.0%) and eighty-nine (89.0%) were more than 50 years old. The mortality of stroke patients with ischemic heart disease group is eighteen patients (18.0%), sixty patients (60%) have poor functional outcome (mRS >2) and have length of stay 7.50 (0-40) days. Bivariate analysis showed stroke patients with ischemic heart disease group is significantly associated with higher in-hospital mortality (RR:2.9, 95%CI:1.1–7.3, p<0.019), worse disability (RR:2.6, 95%CI:1.3 –5.1, p<0.005) and prolonged hospital stay (7.50 (0-40) vs 4 (0-14), p<0.001) than in stroke patients without ischemic heart disease group. Conclusion: Ischemic stroke patients with ischemic heart disease is statistically significantly associated with higher in-hospital mortality, worse disability, prolonged hospitalization than in ischemic stroke patients without ischemic heart disease.

Study of Outcome of Ischemic Stroke Patient With Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia and a major risk factor for ischemic stroke, especially in the elderly. Patients with nonvalvular AF have a 5-fold excess risk of stroke. However, population-based data are scarce in patients who have experienced a first-ever ischemic stroke in the presence of AF regarding long-term risk of stroke recurrence and case-fatality rate. Aim of the study is to find out the outcome of ischemic stroke patients with Atrial Fibrillation. It was a descriptive type cross sectional study where 125 diagnosed cases of ischemic stroke were included. Presence of atrial fibrillation was detected by electrocardiogram. They were divided into two groups – those with atrial fibrillation and those without. Comparison was done between the two group in term of recurrence, mortality and clinical improvement. Atrial fibrillation was present in 22 (17.6%) of 125 patients with ischemic stroke. Those with AF were more frequently male, aged 45 years and older. The presence of AF was associated with high 3 months (Χ2 =4.562, df = 1, p&lt;0.05) and 6 months mortality (Χ2 =7.868, df = 1, p&lt;0.05), with a higher stroke recurrence rate within the first 6 months follow-up (22.7% versus 7.8% (&lt;0.05)). At 3 months follow up clinical deterioration was noted in 9.1% patient with atrial fibrillation compared to 2.9% patients who had no arrhythmia(p&lt;0.01) and at 6 months follow up clinical deterioration was noted in 18.2% patient with atrial fibrillation compared to 4.9% patients who had no arrhythmia(p&lt;0.01). Ischemic stroke patients with atrial fibrillation had significant mortality within the study period compared to those without atrial fibrillation. Significant deterioration in clinical outcome was noted in atrial fibrillation group after six months. Recurrence was more in ischemic stroke patients with atrial fibrillation. Multivariate linear regression analysis shows atrial fibrillation as well as CKD, Diabetes mellitus and smoking as independent risk factor for recurrence. In conclusion, patients who had an ischemic stroke with accompanying atrial fibrillation had higher mortality, grave stroke severity, more recurrences and poorer functional status than those without atrial fibrillation.TAJ 2015; 28(2): 1-6

Prestroke Aspirin Use is Associated with Clinical Outcomes in Ischemic Stroke Patients with Atherothrombosis, Small Artery Disease, and Cardioembolic Stroke.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of prestroke aspirin (PA) use on initial stroke severity, early neurologic deterioration (END), stroke recurrence, hemorrhagic transformation (HT), and functional outcome in patients with ischemic stroke (IS).Methods: This was a prospective, observational, multicenter cohort study. The acute IS patients with atherothrombosis (AT), small artery disease (SAD), or cardioembolic (CE) stroke within 24 hours of symptom onset were identified. National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores on admission, clinical outcomes (END, recurrent ischemic stroke [RIS], myocardial infarction [MI], death, and hemorrhagic episodes), and functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] scores) at three months after admission were compared between PA users and nonusers.Results: Among the 1,862 patients, 401 (21.5%) reported PA use. The PA users had a significantly lower initial NIHSS score than the non-PA users. The effect was evident in AT stroke, but not in other subtypes. PA use was independently associated with the decreased risk of END. PA use increased the risk of HT; however, it was only associated with increased risk for asymptomatic HT, not for symptomatic HT. PA use was associated with better functional outcomes (mRS scores ≤ 2 points) irrespective of stroke subtypes at three months after admission, despite the increased risk of HT.Conclusions: PA use may reduce initial stroke severity in AT stroke and the risk of END, and can improve functional outcome at three months irrespective of stroke subtypes.

Impact of Elevated Hemoglobin A1c Levels on Functional Outcome in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke

Background: The association between hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and clinical outcomes of acute ischemic stroke is uncertain. We aimed to evaluate the association between initial hemoglobin A1c level and clinical outcome after acute ischemic stroke.Methods: A total of 408 patients with first-ever acute ischemic stroke were included in this study. We divided the patients into three groups according to HbA1c level: low HbA1c level (HbA1c <5.7%), moderate HbA1c level (HbA1c 5.7-6.4%), and high HbA1c level (HbA1c ≥6.5%). Poor neurological outcomes were defined as modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 2-6 at 3 months after stroke. The relation between HbA1c value and clinical outcomes were evaluated by using multivariate logistic regression analyses.Results: Moderate HbA1c level was present in 126 (30.9%) patients and high HbA1c level in 129 (31.6%) patients. After adjustment for potential confounding variables, both patients in the high HbA1c level group (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 2.387; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.201-4.745; P = .013) and moderate HbA1c level group (adjusted OR: 1.797; 95% CI, 1.005-3.214; P = .048) had a significantly higher poor neurological outcomes than the group in the low HbA1c level. When separately analyzed according to with or without diabetes, the HbA1c level as continuous variable was also associated with poor functional outcome at 3 months in the diabetic patients (adjusted OR: 1.482, 95% CI, 1.013-2.167, P = .042), nor in nondiabetic group.Conclusions: Higher HbA1c on admission was an independent predictor of adverse functional outcome in ischemic stroke patients. Based on this point, tight glycemic control must be necessary for high-risk diabetic patients.

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and stroke outcome.

There are a great number of arguments suggesting that BDNF could be involved in stroke recovery dependent of neuroplasticity. Methods that can enhance BDNF levels in the ischemic brain could therefore have great clinical value. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) that contain BDNF and infiltrate early and sustainably the ischemic brain might be used as a cellular vector to deliver BDNF to the ischemic brain and consequently promote recovery. This work is important in this field to show if this BDNF derived from BDNF could exert a positive action on stroke recovery. Our main results showed that a high BDNF level at day 3 after hospital admission was associated with a 12.4 fold increase in favorable outcome after adjusting for still recognized prognostic markers. The new information in this field is this finding identifies PBMC as an attractive cellular vector to deliver BDNF to the ischemic brain.

Vitamin D3 deficiency in puberty rats causes presynaptic malfunctioning through alterations in exocytotic release and uptake of glutamate/GABA and expression of EAAC-1/GAT-3 transporters

Recent experimental and epidemiologic investigations have revealed that the central nervous system is a target for vitamin D3 action and also linked vitamin D3 deficiency to Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, autism and dementia. Abnormal homeostasis of glutamate and GABA and signaling disbalance are implicated in the pathogenesis of major neurological diseases. Here, key transport characteristics of glutamate and GABA were analysed in presynaptic nerve terminals (synaptosomes) isolated from the cortex of vitamin D3 deficient (VDD) rats. Puberty rats were kept at the VDD diet up to adulthood. VDD caused: (i) a decrease in the initial rates of L-[14C]glutamate and [3H]GABA uptake by plasma membrane transporters of nerve terminals; (ii) a decrease in exocytotic release of L-[14C]glutamate and [3H]GABA; (iii) changes in expression of glutamate (EAAC-1) and GABA (GAT-3) transporters. Whereas, the synaptosomal ambient levels and Ca2+-independent transporter-mediated release of L-[14C]glutamate and [3H]GABA were not significantly altered in VDD. Vitamin D3 is a potent neurosteroid and its nutritional deficiency can provoke development of neurological consequences changing glutamate/GABA transporter expressions and excitation/inhibition balance. Also, changes in glutamate transport can underlie lower resistance to hypoxia/ischemia, larger infarct volumes and worsened outcomes in ischemic stroke patients with VDD.

Anticoagulants, Reperfusion Therapy, and Outcomes in Ischemic Stroke Patients With Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation - A Single-Center, 6-Year Experience of 546 Consecutive Patients.

This study investigated changes in anticoagulant use, treatment, and functional outcomes in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) over a 6-year period. Methods and Results: Patients with AIS and NVAF admitted to our department from April 2011 to March 2017 were analyzed retrospectively. Patients were divided into 3 groups based on the time of the initial visit (Periods 1-3, corresponding to April 2011-March 2013, April 2013-March 2015, and April 2015-March 2017, respectively). Associations between prescribed medication prior to event and stroke severity, reperfusion therapy, and outcomes were assessed. There was no significant change in the rate of insufficient warfarin and inappropriately lowered doses of direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) treatment over time. The number of patients receiving prior DOAC treatment increased, but neurological severity on admission was milder than in the other 2 groups. The rate of reperfusion therapy increased from 19.9% (Period 1) to 42.7% (Period 3) for moderate-to-severe stroke patients. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that reperfusion therapy was independently positively associated with good functional outcomes, but negatively associated with mortality (odds ratios [95% confidence intervals] 7.14 [3.34-15.29] and 0.13 [0.008-0.69], respectively). Inappropriate anticoagulant use for stroke patients with NVAF did not decrease over time. An increase in reperfusion therapy was a strong factor in improved functional outcomes and mortality.

Long-term neurological, vascular, and mortality outcomes after stroke.

Background Despite improved survival and short-term (90-day) outcomes of ischemic stroke patients, only sparse data exist describing the sustained benefits of acute stroke care interventions and long-term prognosis of stroke survivors. Aim We review the contemporary literature assessing long-term (5 years or more) outcomes after stroke and acute stroke treatment. Summary of review Acute stroke unit care and intravenous thrombolysis have sustained benefits over longer follow-up, but few data exist on the long-term outcome after endovascular thrombectomy (EVT). A large proportion of stroke survivors face challenges of residual disability and neuropsychiatric sequelae (especially affective disorders and epilepsy) which affects their quality of life and is associated with poorer prognosis due to increase in stroke recurrences/mortality. Nearly, a quarter of stroke survivors have a recurrent stroke at 5 years, and nearly double that at 10 years. Mortality after recurrent stroke is high, and half of the stroke survivors are deceased at 5 years after stroke and three fourth at 10 years. Long-term all-cause mortality is largely due to conditions other than stroke. Both stroke recurrence and long-term mortality are affected by several modifiable risk factors, and thus amenable to secondary prevention strategies. Conclusions There is a need for studies reporting longer term effects of acute interventions, especially EVT. Better preventive strategies are warranted to reduce the vascular and non-vascular mortality long after stroke.

Association Between Stroke Severity and 5-Year Mortality in Ischemic Stroke Patients with High-Grade Stenosis of Internal Carotid Artery

BackgroundThe clinical presentations and outcomes of patients with high-grade stenosis of internal carotid artery (ICA) are highly variable. We investigate the influence of different stroke severity on outcomes of ischemic stroke patients with high-grade stenosis of ipsilateral ICA. Methods372 acute first-ever ischemic stroke patients with high-grade stenosis (70%-99%) or occlusion of ipsilateral ICA were enrolled and followed up for 5years. Stroke severities of the enrolled patients were grouped according to the Oxfordshire Community Stroke Project classification system as total anterior circulation infarcts (TACI) or non-TACI. Demographic features, vascular risk factors, comorbidities, and outcomes were compared between the 2 groups. ResultsA total of 71 patients (19.1%) were presented with TACI. Of laboratory data, the values of white blood cell count and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were significantly higher in patients with TACI (P = .008 and P = .003, respectively). Of clinical course, the occurrence of initial impaired conscious, stroke-in-evolution, pneumonia, gastrointestinal bleeding, and urinary tract infection were significantly higher in patients with TACI. The prevalence of dependent functional status was higher in patients with TACI. Multivariate Cox regression revealed that TACI is a significant predictor of 5-year all-cause mortality in first-ever ischemic stroke patients with high-grade stenosis of ipsilateral ICA (HR [hazard ratio] = 3.66, 95% confidence interval = 2.23-6.00, P < .001). ConclusionsTACI is associated with increased risk of 5-year mortality in ischemic stroke patients with high-grade stenosis of ipsilateral ICA. Intensive medical treatment for stroke prevention in patients with severe carotid artery stenosis is warranted.

Acute Blood Pressure Management in Acute Ischemic Stroke and Spontaneous Cerebral Hemorrhage.

We discuss the evidence and guidelines for acute blood pressure (BP) management for patients presenting with acute ischemic stroke or spontaneous cerebral hemorrhage. Observational data suggest that the extremes of BP should be avoided in patients presenting with acute ischemic stroke. There is no convincing evidence that active BP reduction results in improved outcomes for ischemic stroke patients. Current guidelines recommend that BP be maintained ≤ 185/110mmHg in patients who are candidates for intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV tPA) or mechanical thrombectomy and that BP be maintained ≤ 180/105mmHg for at least 24h in patients who have received IV tPA or have undergone mechanical thrombectomy. Acute BP goals for spontaneous cerebral hemorrhage remain unclear despite a number of randomized controlled trials. Acute BP goals for patients with acute ischemic stroke largely depend on candidacy for, and receipt of, IV tPA and mechanical thrombectomy. As thrombectomy is now the standard of care for many patients with large vessel occlusion, we will see a heightened interest in pre- and post-thrombectomy BP management. Future trials of spontaneous cerebral hemorrhage may focus on hyperacute BP lowering (e.g., in the prehospital setting).

Fixed Dose IV rt-PA and Clinical Outcome in Ischemic Stroke Patients With Body Weight >100 kg: Pooled Data From 3 Randomized Clinical Trials

Background and PurposeThe ASA/AHA guidelines recommend a fixed dose of 90 mg of intravenous (IV) recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) for acute stroke patients weighing more than 100 kg. We aimed to determine if body weight >100 kg (and receiving <0.9 mg/kg dose) independently influence patient clinical outcomes following IV rt-PA treatment. MethodsWe pooled data from IV rt-PA treatment arms from 3 randomized controlled clinical trials; NINDS IV rt-PA study, Interventional Management of Stroke 3 and ALIAS (part 1 and 2). Baseline characteristic, hospital course and 90-day mRS were compared between patients >100 kg and those ≤100 kg body weight. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify the independent effect of >100 kg body weight on favorable 90-day outcome (defined as mRS 0-2), the rate of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, and poor 90-day outcome (mRS 4-6). ResultsAmong 873 patients treated with IV rt-PA, a total of 105 (12%) subjects had body weight >100 kg. Compared with patients having ≤100 kg body weight, the rate of favorable outcome at 90 days was not significantly different among patients with >100 kg body weight (OR: 0.99; 95% CI: 0.91-1.01; p=0.91) , after adjusting for potential confounders. The ordinal analysis did not show any significant shift in the distribution of 90-day mRS score in patients with >100 kg body weight (OR, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.64-1.37; P = 0.74) ConclusionsThere was no reduction in the rate of favorable outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke with body weight >100 kg who received <0.9 mg/kg dose of IV rt-PA. Our results support the current recommendations in the ASA/AHA guidelines.

Impact of Retriever Passes on Efficacy and Safety Outcomes of Acute Ischemic Stroke Treated with Mechanical Thrombectomy

In patients with acute ischemic stroke treated with thrombectomy, additional retriever passes may increase the likelihood of recanalization, but also the risk of intracranial hemorrhage. This multicenter retrospective register study aimed to evaluate the impact of retriever passes on treatment efficacy and safety outcomes in patients treated with mechanical thrombectomy. Patients with ischemic stroke due to large artery occlusion in anterior circulation and treated with mechanical thrombectomy were enrolled. The primary efficacy outcome was a favorable functional outcome defined as modified Rankin Scale score of 0-2 at 90days. Major safety outcome was symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (SICH) and mortality. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the impact of retriever passes on efficacy and safety outcomes. Of the 472 enrolled patients, the likelihood of favorable outcome declined in patients with more than three retriever passes (44.4% in patients with three passes, 26.3% with four passes, 14.8% with five or more passes). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified three or less passes as an independent predictor for favorable functional outcomes (OR 2.44, 95% CI 1.10-5.45, P = 0.029). More than three passes was associated with an increased risk of SICH (OR 2.24, 95% CI 1.16-4.33, P = 0.016). More than three retriever passes may increase the rate of recanalization, but not the likelihood of favorable functional outcomes in ischemic stroke patients treated with mechanical thrombectomy. Notably, multiple retriever passes may also increase the risk of intracranial hemorrhage. Level of Evidence: Level 4, Case Series.

Predicting functional outcome of ischemic stroke patients in Romania based on plasma CRP, sTNFR-1, D-Dimers, NGAL and NSE measured using a biochip array.

In cerebral ischemia, evaluation of multiple biomarkers involved in various pathological pathways is a useful tool in assessing the outcome of the patients even from the early stages of the disease. In this study we investigated the utility of a panel of 5 peripheral biomarkers of inflammatory status, neuronal destruction and secondary fibrinolysis in the acute phase of ischemia, and evaluated the impact of these biomarkers on functional outcome after ischemic stroke. The 5 biomarkers (plasma CRP, D-Dimers, sTNFR-1, NGAL and NSE) were measured using a biochip array technology. Eighty nine patients in Romania were divided into 2 subgroups using the modified Rankin Scale evaluated at 3 months after ischemic stroke; the possible impact of analyzed biomarkers on unfavorable functional outcome was tested by binomial logistic regression. The subgroup with unfavorable outcome had higher concentrations of CRP, NGAL, sTNFR-1 and D-dimers, but CRP and NGAL values were not statistically different between the two subgroups. The univariate logistic regression analysis of plasma biomarkers revealed that CRP, D-Dimers, NGAL, sTNFR-1 were significant predictors of unfavorable clinical outcome. In the case of D-Dimers and sTNFR-1 we noticed an increased discrimination ability (versus baseline clinical model) to classify poor functional outcome with a tendency toward statistical signification. During the acute phase of the ischemic stroke, plasma concentrations of CRP, D-Dimers and sTNFR-1 were elevated in unfavorable outcome patients. D-Dimers and sTNFR-1 were independent predictors of poor outcome at 3 months after ischemic stroke. The biochip array technology offers the possibility to simultaneously measure several parameters involved in multiple pathophysiological pathways, in a small sample volume.

Prognostic significance of serum cystatin C in acute ischemic stroke patients according to lipid component levels

Background and aimsSerum cystatin C (CysC) is associated with the risk of ischemic stroke and may predict cardiovascular events and death after ischemic stroke onset. However, the association between serum CysC and functional outcome in ischemic stroke patients remains unclear, and whether lipid component level influences the relationship between them has not been studied. MethodsA total of 3348 ischemic patients from China Antihypertensive Trial in Acute Ischemic Stroke were included in the study. Serum CysC was used to calculate estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFRCysC) at baseline. The primary outcome was poor functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale score ≥3) at one year after ischemic stroke. Secondary outcomes were death, stroke recurrence, vascular events and combination of the aforementioned outcomes. ResultsThe association between eGFRCysC and primary outcome was appreciably modified by low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (pinteraction = 0.048). Low eGFRCysC was associated with primary outcome only in ischemic stroke patients with LDL-C ≥4.14 mmol/l rather than all patients. The multivariable adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval) of poor functional outcome associated with low eGFRCysC was 3.94 (1.04–14.98) and a positive linear dose-response relationship between them was observed among patients with LDL-C ≥4.14 mmol/l (p for linearity = 0.021). Subgroup analyses further confirmed these associations. There was no association between eGFR based on serum creatinine and poor functional outcome of stroke. ConclusionsLow eGFRCysC may be an independent predictor for 1-year poor functional outcome in ischemic stroke patients with LDL-C ≥4.14 mmol/l. Further studies are needed to replicate our findings and to clarify the potential mechanisms.

Commentary to Bentes et al. "Seizures, electroencephalographic abnormalities, and outcome of ischemic stroke patients".

Stroke is the most common potentially preventable etiology among older adults with epilepsy, accounting for half or more of all new-onset cases.1 The current spectrum for management of poststroke epilepsy includes primary stroke prevention,1 symptomatic therapy with antiseizure drugs and, hopefully in the future, antiepileptogenic drugs that prevent poststroke epilepsy. One of the prerequisites of successful antiepileptogenic therapy is to identify patients with a high risk for poststroke epilepsy as early as possible. This is where the work of Carla Bentes et al. (2018), the recipient of the first Clinical prize of Epilepsia Open, comes in.2 Bentes et al.2 evaluated whether early EEG abnormalities can independently predict poststroke epilepsy. The authors performed a prospective study of consecutive patients with acute anterior circulation ischemic stroke without prior epileptic seizures who were admitted to a stroke unit over 24 months and followed for 1 year. Video–electroencephalography 9EEG) was performed in the first 72 h (first EEG), daily for the first 7 days, in case of neurological deterioration, at discharge and at 12 months after stroke. Primary outcome was the occurrence of at least one unprovoked seizure at least 7 days after stroke onset (poststroke epilepsy). Secondary outcomes were the occurrence of at least one acute symptomatic seizure, defined as any seizure in the first 7 days after onset of the stroke and (interictal and/or ictal) epileptiform activity in at least one EEG during the hospital stay for acute stroke. EEG variables were defined using international criteria/terminology. One hundred fifty-one patients were included. Thirty-eight patients (25.2%) had an acute symptomatic seizure and 23 (16%) developed poststroke epilepsy. The main result of the study was that background activity asymmetry of the first EEG and the first EEG with interictal epileptiform activity were independent predictors of poststroke epilepsy during the first year after stroke (p = 0.043 and p = 0.043, respectively). No EEG abnormality independently predicted acute symptomatic seizures. However, the presence of periodic discharges on the first EEG was an independent predictor of epileptiform activity (p = 0.009) during the hospital stay. The main significance of their findings is that an early poststroke EEG can predict epilepsy in the first year after stroke, independently from clinical and infarct size as determined by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) neuroimaging. Indeed, for the same age, and clinical and infarct severity as assessed by MRI, the risk of poststroke unprovoked seizures was 3.2 times higher in patients with first EEG background activity asymmetry and 3.8 times higher in the presence of interictal epileptiform activity in this exam. The present study further enlarges the importance of an early EEG in stroke patients, detecting those with an increased risk for epilepsy. Strengths of this work include the large sample size with prospective clinical assessment and rigorous electroencephalographic acute evaluation and follow-up. Furthermore, this work includes standardized imaging evaluation of middle cerebral artery infarct dimension and the presence of islands of preserved cortex within the infarct. Another aspect that stands out is the use of internationally recognized terminology showing good interobserver agreement, for describing the electroencephalographic features. The consideration of clinical and imaging parameters in the statistic models is also commendable. Finally, it is noteworthy that the first EEG was not useful to predict the risk of having an acute symptomatic seizure. Limitations apply as in any study. It would have been of interest to analyze only patients with clinical seizures and separately study the few patients with so-called electrographic seizures only (which are not seizures as seizure is traditionally a clinical term). Nevertheless, the study by Bentes et al. is an important work that truly deserves the first Clinical Epilepsia Open prize. Congratulations! Read the winning article “Seizures, electroencephalographic abnormalities, and outcome of ischemic stroke patients” online at https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/epi4.12075. Emeritus Professor of Neurology, formerly Free University of Berlin.

Mechanical Thrombectomy-ABrief Review of aRevolutionary new Treatment for Thromboembolic Stroke.

The recent success of endovascular stroke treatment has heralded anew era in the management of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) with significantly improved outcome for patients. Alarge number of patients may be amenable to this new treatment and as the evidence expands the number of patients eligible for mechanical thrombectomy continues to increase. Recent evidence suggests that the time window for treatment can be extended up to 24 h after symptom onset for patients with anterior circulation strokes; however, many clinicians and medical professionals may not be aware of these recent changes and it is important that they are kept up-to-date with this rapidly evolving treatment. This review provides an overview of the recent successful trials and highlights important steps that should be instituted in order to achieve rapid reperfusion and optimize the outcome for ischemic stroke patients. It also looks at the remaining controversies facing the field of thrombectomy. Ashort summary of each of these contentious areas is provided and the current state of the art.