Association of thrombus density and endovascular treatment outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke due to M1 occlusions

PURPOSE: We aimed to study the association of non-contrast CT (NCCT) thrombus density with procedural and clinical outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke who underwent endovascular treatment (EVT). Since thrombus density is associated with thrombus location, we focused on M1 occlusions only.METHODS: Patients with available thin-slice (&lt; 2.5 mm) NCCT were included from a nationwide registry. Regression models were used to assess the relation between thrombus density (per Hounsfield unit [HU]) and the following outcomes. For reperfusion grade, adjusted common odds ratios (acOR) indicated a 1-step shift towards improved outcome per HU increase in thrombus density. For the binary outcomes of first-pass reperfusion (first-pass extended thrombolysis in cerebral infarction [eTICI] 2C-3, FPR), functional independence [90-day modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score of 0-2] and mortality), aORs were reported. Adjusted β coefficients (aβ) were reported for 24-h NIHSS and procedure duration in minutes. Outcome differences between first-line treatment devices (stent retriever versus aspiration) were assessed with interaction terms.RESULTS: In 566 patients with M1 occlusions, thrombus density was not associated with reperfusion (acOR 1.01, 95% CI 0.99-1.02), FPR (aOR 1.01, 95% CI 0.99-1.03), mortality (aOR 0.98, 95% CI 0.95-1.00), 24-h NIHSS (aβ - 0.7%, 95% CI - 1.4-0.2), or procedure duration (aβ 0.27, 95% CI - 0.05-0.58). In multivariable analysis, thrombus density was associated with functional independence (aOR 1.02, 95% CI 1.00-1.05). No interaction was found between thrombus density and first-line treatment device for any outcome.CONCLUSION: In patients with M1 occlusions, thrombus density was not clearly associated with procedural and clinical outcomes after EVT.</p

Factibilidad y resultados de un programa de rehabilitación cardiaca intensiva. Perspectiva del estudio aleatorizado MxM (Más por Menos)

Introducción y objetivos Los programas de rehabilitación cardiaca (PRC) engloban intervenciones encaminadas a mejorar el pronóstico de la enfermedad cardiovascular influyendo en la condición física, mental y social de los pacientes, pero no se conoce su duración óptima. Nuestro objetivo es comparar los resultados de un PRC estándar frente a otro intensivo más breve tras un síndrome coronario agudo, mediante el estudio Más por Menos. Métodos Diseño prospectivo, aleatorizado, abierto, enmascarado a los evaluadores de eventos y multicéntrico (PROBE). Se aleatorizó a los pacientes al PRC estándar de 8 semanas u otro intensivo de 2 semanas con sesiones de refuerzo. Se realizó una visita final 12 meses después, tras la finalización del programa. Se evaluó: adherencia a la dieta, esfera psicológica, hábito tabáquico, tratamiento farmacológico, capacidad funcional, calidad de vida, parámetros cardiometabólicos y antropométricos, eventos cardiovasculares y mortalidad por cualquier causa durante el seguimiento. Resultados Se analizó a 497 pacientes (media de edad, 57, 8 ± 10, 0 años; el 87, 3% varones; programa intensivo, n = 262; estándar, n = 235). Las características basales de ambos grupos eran similares. Al año, más del 93% había mejorado en al menos 1 MET el resultado de la ergometría. Además, la adherencia a la dieta mediterránea y la calidad de vida mejoraron significativamente con el PRC, sin diferencias significativas entre grupos. Los eventos cardiovasculares ocurrieron de manera similar en ambos grupos. Conclusiones La PRC intensiva podría ser tan efectiva como la PRC estándar en lograr la adherencia a las medidas de prevención secundaria y ser una alternativa para algunos pacientes y centros. Introduction and objectives: Cardiac rehabilitation programs (CRP) are a set of interventions to improve the prognosis of cardiovascular disease by influencing patients’ physical, mental, and social conditions. However, there are no studies evaluating the optimal duration of these programs. We aimed to compare the results of a standard vs a brief intensive CRP in patients after ST-segment elevation and non–ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome through the Más por Menos study (More Intensive Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs in Less Time). Methods: In this prospective, randomized, open, evaluator-blind for end-point, and multicenter trial (PROBE design), patients were randomly allocated to either standard 8-week CRP or intensive 2-week CRP with booster sessions. A final visit was performed 12 months later, after completion of the program. We assessed adherence to the Mediterranean diet, psychological status, smoking, drug therapy, functional capacity, quality of life, cardiometabolic and anthropometric parameters, cardiovascular events, and all-cause mortality during follow-up. Results: A total of 497 patients (mean age, 57.8 ± 10.0 years; 87.3% men) were finally assessed (intensive: n = 262; standard: n = 235). Baseline characteristics were similar between the 2 groups. At 12 months, the results of treadmill ergometry improved by = 1 MET in = 93% of the patients. In addition, adherence to the Mediterranean diet and quality of life were significantly improved by CRP, with no significant differences between the groups. The occurrence of cardiovascular events was similar in the 2 groups. Conclusions: Intensive CRP could be as effective as standard CRP in achieving adherence to recommended secondary prevention measures after acute coronary syndrome and could be an alternative for some patients and centers. Registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT02619422)

International longitudinal registry of patients with atrial fibrillation and treated with rivaroxaban: RIVaroxaban Evaluation in Real life setting (RIVER)

Background Real-world data on non-vitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOACs) are essential in determining whether evidence from randomised controlled clinical trials translate into meaningful clinical benefits for patients in everyday practice. RIVER (RIVaroxaban Evaluation in Real life setting) is an ongoing international, prospective registry of patients with newly diagnosed non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) and at least one investigator-determined risk factor for stroke who received rivaroxaban as an initial treatment for the prevention of thromboembolic stroke. The aim of this paper is to describe the design of the RIVER registry and baseline characteristics of patients with newly diagnosed NVAF who received rivaroxaban as an initial treatment. Methods and results Between January 2014 and June 2017, RIVER investigators recruited 5072 patients at 309 centres in 17 countries. The aim was to enroll consecutive patients at sites where rivaroxaban was already routinely prescribed for stroke prevention. Each patient is being followed up prospectively for a minimum of 2-years. The registry will capture data on the rate and nature of all thromboembolic events (stroke / systemic embolism), bleeding complications, all-cause mortality and other major cardiovascular events as they occur. Data quality is assured through a combination of remote electronic monitoring and onsite monitoring (including source data verification in 10% of cases). Patients were mostly enrolled by cardiologists (n = 3776, 74.6%), by internal medicine specialists 14.2% (n = 718) and by primary care/general practice physicians 8.2% (n = 417). The mean (SD) age of the population was 69.5 (11.0) years, 44.3% were women. Mean (SD) CHADS2 score was 1.9 (1.2) and CHA2DS2-VASc scores was 3.2 (1.6). Almost all patients (98.5%) were prescribed with once daily dose of rivaroxaban, most commonly 20 mg (76.5%) and 15 mg (20.0%) as their initial treatment; 17.9% of patients received concomitant antiplatelet therapy. Most patients enrolled in RIVER met the recommended threshold for AC therapy (86.6% for 2012 ESC Guidelines, and 79.8% of patients according to 2016 ESC Guidelines). Conclusions The RIVER prospective registry will expand our knowledge of how rivaroxaban is prescribed in everyday practice and whether evidence from clinical trials can be translated to the broader cross-section of patients in the real world

Modelling collateral flow and thrombus permeability during acute ischaemic stroke

The presence of collaterals and high thrombus permeability are associated with good functional outcomes after an acute ischaemic stroke. We aim to understand the combined effect of the collaterals and thrombus permeability on cerebral blood flow during an acute ischaemic stroke. A cerebral blood flow model including the leptomeningeal collateral circulation is used to simulate cerebral blood flow during an acute ischaemic stroke. The collateral circulation is varied to capture the collateral scores: absent, poor, moderate and good. Measurements of the transit time, void fraction and thrombus length in acute ischaemic stroke patients are used to estimate thrombus permeability. Estimated thrombus permeability ranges between 10-7 and 10-4 mm2. Measured flow rates through the thrombus are small and the effect of a permeable thrombus on brain perfusion during stroke is small compared with the effect of collaterals. Our simulations suggest that the collaterals are a dominant factor in the resulting infarct volume after a stroke

Modelling collateral flow and thrombus permeability during acute ischaemic stroke

The presence of collaterals and high thrombus permeability are associated with good functional outcomes after an acute ischaemic stroke. We aim to understand the combined effect of the collaterals and thrombus permeability on cerebral blood flow during an acute ischaemic stroke. A cerebral blood flow model including the leptomeningeal collateral circulation is used to simulate cerebral blood flow during an acute ischaemic stroke. The collateral circulation is varied to capture the collateral scores: absent, poor, moderate and good. Measurements of the transit time, void fraction and thrombus length in acute ischaemic stroke patients are used to estimate thrombus permeability. Estimated thrombus permeability ranges between 10-7 and 10-4 mm2. Measured flow rates through the thrombus are small and the effect of a permeable thrombus on brain perfusion during stroke is small compared with the effect of collaterals. Our simulations suggest that the collaterals are a dominant factor in the resulting infarct volume after a stroke

Value of Automatically Derived Full Thrombus Characteristics:An Explorative Study of Their Associations with Outcomes in Ischemic Stroke Patients

(1) Background: For acute ischemic strokes caused by large vessel occlusion, manually assessed thrombus volume and perviousness have been associated with treatment outcomes. However, the manual assessment of these characteristics is time-consuming and subject to inter-observer bias. Alternatively, a recently introduced fully automated deep learning-based algorithm can be used to consistently estimate full thrombus characteristics. Here, we exploratively assess the value of these novel biomarkers in terms of their association with stroke outcomes. (2) Methods: We studied two applications of automated full thrombus characterization as follows: one in a randomized trial, MR CLEAN-NO IV (n = 314), and another in a Dutch nationwide registry, MR CLEAN Registry (n = 1839). We used an automatic pipeline to determine the thrombus volume, perviousness, density, and heterogeneity. We assessed their relationship with the functional outcome defined as the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) at 90 days and two technical success measures as follows: successful final reperfusion, which is defined as an eTICI score of 2b-3, and successful first-pass reperfusion (FPS). (3) Results: Higher perviousness was significantly related to a better mRS in both MR CLEAN-NO IV and the MR CLEAN Registry. A lower thrombus volume and lower heterogeneity were only significantly related to better mRS scores in the MR CLEAN Registry. Only lower thrombus heterogeneity was significantly related to technical success; it was significantly related to a higher chance of FPS in the MR CLEAN-NO IV trial (OR = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.31–0.98) and successful reperfusion in the MR CLEAN Registry (OR = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.78–0.99). (4) Conclusions: Thrombus characteristics derived from automatic entire thrombus segmentations are significantly related to stroke outcomes.</p