Blood flow response to orthostatic challenge identifies signatures of the failure of static cerebral autoregulation in patients with cerebrovascular disease

Autorregulació cerebral; Malaltia cerebrovascular; Òptica difusaAutorregulación cerebral; Enfermedad cerebrovascular; Óptica difusaCerebral autoregulation; Cerebrovascular disease; Diffuse opticsBackground The cortical microvascular cerebral blood flow response (CBF) to different changes in head-of-bed (HOB) position has been shown to be altered in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) by diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS) technique. However, the relationship between these relative ΔCBF changes and associated systemic blood pressure changes has not been studied, even though blood pressure is a major driver of cerebral blood flow. Methods Transcranial DCS data from four studies measuring bilateral frontal microvascular cerebral blood flow in healthy controls (n = 15), patients with asymptomatic severe internal carotid artery stenosis (ICA, n = 27), and patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS, n = 72) were aggregated. DCS-measured CBF was measured in response to a short head-of-bed (HOB) position manipulation protocol (supine/elevated/supine, 5 min at each position). In a sub-group (AIS, n = 26; ICA, n = 14; control, n = 15), mean arterial pressure (MAP) was measured dynamically during the protocol. Results After elevated positioning, DCS CBF returned to baseline supine values in controls (p = 0.890) but not in patients with AIS (9.6% [6.0,13.3], mean 95% CI, p < 0.001) or ICA stenosis (8.6% [3.1,14.0], p = 0.003)). MAP in AIS patients did not return to baseline values (2.6 mmHg [0.5, 4.7], p = 0.018), but in ICA stenosis patients and controls did. Instead ipsilesional but not contralesional CBF was correlated with MAP (AIS 6.0%/mmHg [− 2.4,14.3], p = 0.038; ICA stenosis 11.0%/mmHg [2.4,19.5], p < 0.001). Conclusions The observed associations between ipsilateral CBF and MAP suggest that short HOB position changes may elicit deficits in cerebral autoregulation in cerebrovascular disorders. Additional research is required to further characterize this phenomenon.The funders did not have any role in study design, execution and data interpretation. This work was funded by Redes Temáticas de Investigación Cooperativa (RETICS-INVICTUS RD012/0014 and RD16/0019/0010), Fundació CELLEX Barcelona, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad/FEDER (PHOTODEMENTIA, PHOTOMETABO, DPI2015–64358-C2–1-R, PRE2018-085082), Instituto de Salud Carlos III/FEDER (FIS PI09/0557, MEDPHOTAGE, DTS16/00087), the “Severo Ochoa” Programme for Centres of Excellence in R&D (SEV-2015-0522), the Obra Social “la Caixa” Foundation (LlumMedBcn), Institució “Centres de Recerca de Catalunya”, “Agència de Gestió d’Ajuts Universitaris i de Recerca”-Generalitat (2017SGR-1380), LASERLAB-EUROPE IV (EU-H2020 654148), Whitaker International Program of the Institute for International Education, T32 HL007954 Multidisciplinary training in cardiovascular biology, Marie Curie initial training network (OILTEBIA 317526), Marie Sklowdowska-Curie-COFUND (H2020, ICFOstepstone 2, 71329), “Fundació La Marató TV3” (201709.30, 201709.31), São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) through 2012/02500–8 and National Institutes of Health (R01-NS060653, K24-NS058386, R24-HD050836, P41-EB015893, DP2-HD101400, U54-HD086984)

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) and CT perfusion changes

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) can present with focal neurologic deficits, mimicking a stroke and can often represent a diagnostic challenge when presenting atypically. A high degree of suspicion is required in the clinical setting in order to yield the diagnosis. Cerebral CT perfusion (CTP) is utilized in many institutions as the first line in acute stroke imaging. CTP has proved to be a very sensitive measure of cerebral blood flow dynamics, most commonly employed to delineate the infarcted tissue from penumbra (at-risk tissue) in ischemic strokes. But abnormal CTP is also seen in stroke mimics such as seizures, hypoglycemia, tumors, migraines and PRES. In this article we describe a case of PRES in an elderly bone marrow transplant recipient who presented with focal neurological deficits concerning for a cerebrovascular accident. CTP played a pivotal role in the diagnosis and initiation of appropriate management. We also briefly discuss the pathophysiology of PRES

Modified Pediatric ASPECTS Correlates with Infarct Volume in Childhood Arterial Ischemic Stroke

Background and Purpose: Larger infarct volume as a percent of supratentorial brain volume (SBV) predicts poor outcome and hemorrhagic transformation in childhood arterial ischemic stroke (AIS). In perinatal AIS, higher scores on a modified pediatric version of the Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score using acute MRI (modASPECTS) predict later seizure occurrence. The objectives were to establish the relationship of modASPECTS to infarct volume in perinatal and childhood AIS and to establish the interrater reliability of the score. Methods: We performed a cross sectional study of 31 neonates and 40 children identified from a tertiary care center stroke registry with supratentorial AIS and acute MRI with diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) and T2 axial sequences. Infarct volume was expressed as a percent of SBV using computer-assisted manual segmentation tracings. ModASPECTS was performed on DWI by three independent raters. The modASPECTS were compared among raters and to infarct volume as a percent of SBV. Results: ModASPECTS correlated well with infarct volume. Spearman rank correlation coefficients (ρ) for the perinatal and childhood groups were 0.76, p < 0.001 and 0.69, p < 0.001, respectively. Excluding one perinatal and two childhood subjects with multifocal punctate ischemia without large or medium sized vessel stroke, ρ for the perinatal and childhood groups were 0.87, p < 0.001 and 0.80, p < 0.001, respectively. The intraclass correlation coefficients for the three raters for the neonates and children were 0.93 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.89–0.97, p < 0.001] and 0.94 (95% CI 0.91–0.97, p < 0.001), respectively. Conclusion: The modified pediatric ASPECTS on acute MRI can be used to estimate infarct volume as a percent of SBV with a high degree of validity and interrater reliability

Management of Patients With Patent Foramen Ovale and Stroke: A National Survey of Interventional Cardiologists and Vascular Neurologists

Background Results from multiple clinical trials support patent foramen ovale closure after cryptogenic stroke in select patients, but it remains unclear how new data and updated professional society guidelines have impacted clinical practice. Here, we aimed to compare how stroke neurologists and interventional cardiologists approach patients with cryptogenic stroke with patent foramen ovale and how critical anatomic and clinical factors influence decision making. Methods and Results An electronic survey was administered to 1556 vascular neurologists and 1057 interventional cardiologists throughout the United States. The survey addressed factors such as patient age, preclosure workup, and postclosure antithrombotics. Clinical vignettes highlighted critical variables and used a 5‐point Likert scale to assess the providers' level of support for closure. There were 491 survey responses received from 301 (of 1556) vascular neurologists and 190 (of 1057) interventional cardiologists, with an overall response rate of 19%. Vascular neurologists were more likely to recommend against closure on the basis of older age (P<0.001). Interventional cardiologists are more supportive of closure across a range of clinical vignettes, including a very carefully selected patient with cryptogenic stroke (P<0.001), a patient with a high‐risk alternative stroke cause (P<0.001), and a range of cases highlighting clinical variables where data are lacking. The majority of interventionalists (88%) seek neurology consultation before pursuing patent foramen ovale closure. Conclusions lnterventional cardiologists are more likely than vascular neurologists to support patent foramen ovale closure across a range of situations. This emphasizes the importance of collaboration and shared decision making, but also reveals an opportunity for professional society educational outreach

Trends in the management of atrial fibrillation: A neurologist\u27s perspective

Cardiac embolism, primarily from atrial fibrillation (AF), is implicated in a quarter of all ischemic strokes. In the setting of AF, contraindications to traditional therapies can create a clinical dilemma when choosing an agent for secondary stroke prophylaxis. Newer horizons in the medical and surgical management of AF have helped us choose from a wide variety of available therapies, the best possible management. In this article, we review the current trends in AF management including newer oral anticoagulants as well as surgical devices from a neurologist\u27s view

Clinicians' Approach to Patent Foramen Ovale Closure after Stroke: Comparing Cardiologists and Neurologists

Background Evidence from randomized trials and updated professional society guidelines supports patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure after cryptogenic stroke in select patients. It is unclear how this has been integrated into real‐world practice, so we aimed to compare practice patterns between cardiologists and neurologists. Methods and Results In March of 2021, a survey of cardiologists and neurologists who work or previously trained at the University of Pennsylvania Health System assessed practice preferences with respect to PFO closure after stroke. Clinical vignettes isolated specific variables of interest and used a 5‐point Likert scale to assess the level of support for PFO closure. Stroke neurologists and interventional cardiologists were compared by Wilcoxon‐Mann–Whitney tests. Secondarily, Kruskal–Wallis tests compared stroke neurologists, general neurologists, interventional cardiologists, and general cardiologists. We received 106 responses from 182 survey recipients (31/31 stroke neurologists, 38/46 interventional cardiologists, 20/30 general neurologists, and 17/77 general cardiologists). A similar proportion of stroke neurologists and interventional cardiologists favored PFO closure in a young patient with cryptogenic stroke, 88% and 87%, respectively (P=0.54). Interventionalists were more likely than stroke neurologists to support closure in the context of an alternative high‐risk stroke mechanism, 14% and 0%, respectively (P=0.003). Stroke neurologists were more likely to oppose closure on the basis of older age (P=0.01). Conclusions There are key differences between how neurologists and cardiologists approach PFO closure after stroke, particularly when interpreting the stroke etiology and when considering closure beyond the scope of prior trials; this underscores the importance of collaboration between cardiologists and neurologists

Always Look on the Bright Side: Associations of Optimism With Functional Outcomes After Stroke

Background Psychological health is as an important contributor to recovery after cardiovascular disease, but the roles of both optimism and depression in stroke recovery are not well characterized. Methods and Results A total of 879 participants in the SRUP (Stroke Recovery in Underserved Populations) 2005 to 2006 Study, aged ≥50 years, with incident stroke admitted to a rehabilitation facility were included. Optimism was assessed by the question: “Are you optimistic about the future?” Depression was defined by Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale score >16. Participants were categorized into 4 groups: optimistic/without depression (n=581), optimistic/with depression (n=197), nonoptimistic/without depression (n=36), and nonoptimistic/with depression (n=65). Functional Independence Measure scores were used to assess stroke outcomes at discharge, 3 months after discharge, and 1 year after discharge with adjusted linear mixed models to estimate score trajectories. Participants were a mean age of 68 years (SD, 13 years), 52% were women, and 74% were White race. The optimistic/without depression group experienced the most recovery of total Functional Independence Measure scores in the first 3 months, 24.0 (95% CI, 22.5–25.4), followed by no change in the following 9 months, −0.3 (95% CI, −2.3 to 1.7), similar to the optimistic/with depression group with rapid recovery in 0 to 3 months, 21.1 (95% CI, 18.6–23.6) followed by minimal change in 3 to 12 months, 0.7 (95% CI, −2.8 to 4.1). The nonoptimistic groups demonstrated slow but continued recovery throughout the 12‐month period, with overall change, 25.4 (95% CI, 17.6–33.2) in the nonoptimistic/without depression group and 17.6 (95% CI, 12.0–23.1) in the nonoptimistic/with depression group. There was robust effect modification between optimism and depression (Pinteraction<0.001). Conclusions In this longitudinal cohort, optimism and depression are synergistically associated with functional recovery after stroke. Measuring optimism status may help identify individuals at risk for worse poststroke recovery