Intravenous Thrombolysis With or Without Endovascular Treatment for Suspected Ischemic Stroke in Patients With Intracranial Tumors.

Intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) for suspected ischemic stroke in patients with intracranial neoplasms is off-label. However, data on risks of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) is scarce. In a multicenter registry-based analysis within the European Thrombolysis in Ischemic Stroke Patients (TRISP) collaboration, we assessed frequencies of symptomatic and fatal ICH after IVT for suspected ischemic stroke in patients with intracranial tumors by descriptive statistics and analyzed associations with clinical and imaging characteristics by binary logistic regression. Definition of symptomatic ICH was based on the clinical criteria of the European Cooperative Acute Stroke-II trial including hemorrhage at any site in cranial imaging and concurrent clinical deterioration. Screening data of 21,289 patients from 14 centers, we identified 105 patients receiving IVT, among them 29 patients (28%) with additional endovascular treatment, with suspected, i.e. imaging-based, or histologically confirmed diagnosis of intracranial tumors. Among 104 patients with CT or MRI after IVT available, symptomatic and fatal ICH were observed in nine and four patients (9% and 4%). Among 82 patients with suspected or confirmed meningioma, symptomatic and fatal ICH occurred in six and three patients (7% and 4%). In 18 patients with intra-axial suspected or confirmed primary or secondary brain tumors, there was one symptomatic nonfatal ICH (6%). Out of four patients with tumors of the pituitary region, two patients (50%) had symptomatic ICH including one fatal ICH (25%). Tumor size was not associated with occurrence of symptomatic ICH (Odds ratio 2.8, 95% CI 0.3-24.8, p=0.34). In our dataset from routine clinical care, we provide insights on the safety of IVT for suspected ischemic stroke in patients with intracranial tumors, a population that is commonly withheld thrombolysis in clinical practice and prospective trials. Except for a potential high risk of symptomatic ICH after IVT in patients with tumors of the pituitary region, frequencies of symptomatic ICH in patients with intracranial tumors in our cohort appear to be in the upper range of rates observed in previous studies within the TRISP cooperation. These results may guide individual treatment decisions in patients with acute stroke and intracranial tumors with potential benefit of IVT

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

BACKGROUND Patients 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. METHODS Patients 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. RESULTS Included 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. DISCUSSION Treatment 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

Thrombolysis in stroke patients with elevated inflammatory markers.

To investigate the prognostic value of white blood cell count (WBC) on functional outcome, mortality and bleeding risk in stroke patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis (IVT). In this prospective multicenter study from the TRISP registry, we assessed the association between WBC on admission and 3-month poor outcome (modified Rankin Scale 3-6), mortality and occurrence of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH; ECASS-II-criteria) in IVT-treated stroke patients. WBC was used as continuous and categorical variable distinguishing leukocytosis (WBC > 10 × 10 <sup>9</sup> /l) and leukopenia (WBC < 4 × 10 <sup>9</sup> /l). We calculated unadjusted/ adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (OR [95% CI]) with logistic regression models. In a subgroup, we analyzed the association of combined leukocytosis and elevated C-reactive protein (CRP > 10 mg/l) on outcomes. Of 10,813 IVT-treated patients, 2527 had leukocytosis, 112 leukopenia and 8174 normal WBC. Increasing WBC (by 1 × 10 <sup>9</sup> /l) predicted poor outcome (OR <sub>adjusted</sub> 1.04[1.02-1.06]) but not mortality and sICH. Leukocytosis was independently associated with poor outcome (OR <sub>adjusted</sub> 1.48[1.29-1.69]) and mortality (OR <sub>adjusted</sub> 1.60[1.35-1.89]) but not with sICH (OR <sub>adjusted</sub> 1.17[0.94-1.45]). Leukopenia did not predict any outcome. In a subgroup, combined leukocytosis and elevated CRP had the strongest association with poor outcome (OR <sub>adjusted</sub> 2.26[1.76-2.91]) and mortality (OR <sub>adjusted</sub> 2.43[1.86-3.16]) when compared to combined normal WBC and CRP. In IVT-treated patients, leukocytosis independently predicted poor functional outcome and death. Bleeding complications after IVT were not independently associated with leukocytosis

Prior Dual Antiplatelet Therapy and Thrombolysis in Acute Stroke

[No abstract available

Thrombolysis in stroke patients with elevated inflammatory markers

Objective: To investigate the prognostic value of white blood cell count (WBC) on functional outcome, mortality and bleeding risk in stroke patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis (IVT). Methods: In this prospective multicenter study from the TRISP registry, we assessed the association between WBC on admission and 3-month poor outcome (modified Rankin Scale 3–6), mortality and occurrence of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH; ECASS-II-criteria) in IVT-treated stroke patients. WBC was used as continuous and categorical variable distinguishing leukocytosis (WBC > 10 × 109/l) and leukopenia (WBC < 4 × 109/l). We calculated unadjusted/ adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (OR [95% CI]) with logistic regression models. In a subgroup, we analyzed the association of combined leukocytosis and elevated C-reactive protein (CRP > 10 mg/l) on outcomes. Results: Of 10,813 IVT-treated patients, 2527 had leukocytosis, 112 leukopenia and 8174 normal WBC. Increasing WBC (by 1 × 109/l) predicted poor outcome (ORadjusted 1.04[1.02–1.06]) but not mortality and sICH. Leukocytosis was independently associated with poor outcome (ORadjusted 1.48[1.29–1.69]) and mortality (ORadjusted 1.60[1.35–1.89]) but not with sICH (ORadjusted 1.17[0.94–1.45]). Leukopenia did not predict any outcome. In a subgroup, combined leukocytosis and elevated CRP had the strongest association with poor outcome (ORadjusted 2.26[1.76–2.91]) and mortality (ORadjusted 2.43[1.86–3.16]) when compared to combined normal WBC and CRP. Conclusion: In IVT-treated patients, leukocytosis independently predicted poor functional outcome and death. Bleeding complications after IVT were not independently associated with leukocytosis. © 2022, The Author(s)

Safety and outcome of revascularization treatment in patients with acute ischemic stroke and COVID-19: the Global COVID-19 Stroke Registry

Background and ObjectivesCOVID-19-related inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and coagulopathy may increase the bleeding risk and lower the efficacy of revascularization treatments in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). We aimed to evaluate the safety and outcomes of revascularization treatments in patients with AIS and COVID-19.MethodsThis was a retrospective multicenter cohort study of consecutive patients with AIS receiving intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) and/or endovascular treatment (EVT) between March 2020 and June 2021 tested for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. With a doubly robust model combining propensity score weighting and multivariate regression, we studied the association of COVID-19 with intracranial bleeding complications and clinical outcomes. Subgroup analyses were performed according to treatment groups (IVT-only and EVT).ResultsOf a total of 15,128 included patients from 105 centers, 853 (5.6%) were diagnosed with COVID-19; of those, 5,848 (38.7%) patients received IVT-only and 9,280 (61.3%) EVT (with or without IVT). Patients with COVID-19 had a higher rate of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (SICH) (adjusted OR 1.53; 95% CI 1.16-2.01), symptomatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (SSAH) (OR 1.80; 95% CI 1.20-2.69), SICH and/or SSAH combined (OR 1.56; 95% CI 1.23-1.99), 24-hour mortality (OR 2.47; 95% CI 1.58-3.86), and 3-month mortality (OR 1.88; 95% CI 1.52-2.33). Patients with COVID-19 also had an unfavorable shift in the distribution of the modified Rankin score at 3 months (OR 1.42; 95% CI 1.26-1.60).DiscussionPatients with AIS and COVID-19 showed higher rates of intracranial bleeding complications and worse clinical outcomes after revascularization treatments than contemporaneous non-COVID-19 patients receiving treatment. Current available data do not allow direct conclusions to be drawn on the effectiveness of revascularization treatments in patients with COVID-19 or to establish different treatment recommendations in this subgroup of patients with ischemic stroke. Our findings can be taken into consideration for treatment decisions, patient monitoring, and establishing prognosis.Paroxysmal Cerebral Disorder

Safety and Outcome of Revascularization Treatment in Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke and COVID-19: The Global COVID-19 Stroke Registry.

COVID-19 related inflammation, endothelial dysfunction and coagulopathy may increase the bleeding risk and lower efficacy of revascularization treatments in patients with acute ischemic stroke. We aimed to evaluate the safety and outcomes of revascularization treatments in patients with acute ischemic stroke and COVID-19. Retrospective multicenter cohort study of consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke receiving intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) and/or endovascular treatment (EVT) between March 2020 and June 2021, tested for SARS-CoV-2 infection. With a doubly-robust model combining propensity score weighting and multivariate regression, we studied the association of COVID-19 with intracranial bleeding complications and clinical outcomes. Subgroup analyses were performed according to treatment groups (IVT-only and EVT). Of a total of 15128 included patients from 105 centers, 853 (5.6%) were diagnosed with COVID-19. 5848 (38.7%) patients received IVT-only, and 9280 (61.3%) EVT (with or without IVT). Patients with COVID-19 had a higher rate of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (SICH) (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.53; 95% CI 1.16-2.01), symptomatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (SSAH) (OR 1.80; 95% CI 1.20-2.69), SICH and/or SSAH combined (OR 1.56; 95% CI 1.23-1.99), 24-hour (OR 2.47; 95% CI 1.58-3.86) and 3-month mortality (OR 1.88; 95% CI 1.52-2.33).COVID-19 patients also had an unfavorable shift in the distribution of the modified Rankin score at 3 months (OR 1.42; 95% CI 1.26-1.60). Patients with acute ischemic stroke and COVID-19 showed higher rates of intracranial bleeding complications and worse clinical outcomes after revascularization treatments than contemporaneous non-COVID-19 treated patients. Current available data does not allow direct conclusions to be drawn on the effectiveness of revascularization treatments in COVID-19 patients, or to establish different treatment recommendations in this subgroup of patients with ischemic stroke. Our findings can be taken into consideration for treatment decisions, patient monitoring and establishing prognosis