A Case of Reversed Robin Hood Syndrome: A Prognostic Indicator for an Urgent Therapy

Abstract Introduction In acute stroke, the diagnosis of reversed Robin Hood syndrome (RRHS) by transcranial Doppler (TCD) helps to identify patients at high risk for neurological deterioration. Report A patient with left intracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) dissection and concomitant inadequate collateral circulation suffered from recurrent ipsilateral ischaemic symptoms, not prevented by the best medical treatment. TCD showed an RRHS. Stenting of ICA could restore an adequate flow with disappearance of the RRHS and prevention of further episodes. Discussion An invasive emergency treatment should be considered in those stroke patients in which TCD detects an inadequate haemodynamic status

Short-Term and Two-Year Rate of Recurrent Cerebrovascular Events in Patients with Acute Cerebral Ischemia of Undetermined Aetiology, with and without a Patent Foramen Ovale

Purpose. We investigated stroke recurrence in patients with acute ischemic stroke of undetermined aetiology, with or without a patent foramen ovale (PFO). Methods. Consecutive stroke patients underwent to Transcranial Doppler and Transesophageal Echocardiography for PFO detection. Secondary stroke prevention was based on current guidelines. Results. PFO was detected in 57/129 (44%) patients. The rate of recurrent stroke did not significantly differ between patients with and without a PFO: 0.0% versus 1.4% (1 week), 1.7% versus 2.7% (1 month), and 3.5% versus 4.2% (3 months), respectively. The 2-year rates were 10.4% (5/48) in medically treated PFO and 8.3% (6/72) in PFO-negative patients (P = 0.65), with a relative risk of 1.25. No recurrent events occurred in 9 patients treated with percutaneous closure of PFO. Conclusion. PFO was not associated with increased rate of recurrent stroke. Age-related factors associated with stroke recurrence in cryptogenic stroke should be taken into account when patients older than 55 years are included in PFO studies

CT Perfusion as a Predictor of the Final Infarct Volume in Patients with Tandem Occlusion

Background: CT perfusion (CTP) is used in patients with anterior circulation acute ischemic stroke (AIS) for predicting the final infarct volume (FIV). Tandem occlusion (TO), involving both intracranial large vessels and the ipsilateral cervical internal carotid artery could generate hemodynamic changes altering perfusion parameters. Our aim is to evaluate the accuracy of CTP in the prediction of the FIV in TOs. Methods: consecutive patients with AIS due to middle cerebral artery occlusion, referred to a tertiary stroke center between March 2019 and January 2021, with an automated CTP and successful recanalization (mTICI = 2b - 3) after endovascular treatment were retrospectively included in the tandem group (TG) or in the control group (CG). Patients with parenchymal hematoma type 2, according to ECASS II classification of hemorrhagic transformations, were excluded in a secondary analysis. Demographic, clinical, radiological, time intervals, safety, and outcome measures were collected. Results: among 319 patients analyzed, a comparison between the TG (N = 22) and CG (n = 37) revealed similar cerebral blood flow (CBF) > 30% (29.50 +/- 32.33 vs. 15.76 +/- 20.93 p = 0.18) and FIV (54.67 +/- 65.73 vs. 55.14 +/- 64.64 p = 0.875). Predicted ischemic core (PIC) and FIV correlated in both TG (tau = 0.761, p < 0.001) and CG (tau = 0.315, p = 0.029). The Bland-Altmann plot showed agreement between PIC and FIV for both groups, mainly in the secondary analysis. Conclusion: automated CTP could represent a good predictor of FIV in patients with AIS due to TO

Guideline on carotid surgery for stroke prevention: updates from the Italian Society of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery. A trend towards personalized medicine

Background: This guideline (GL) on carotid surgery as updating of "Stroke: Italian guidelines for Prevention and Treatment" of the ISO-SPREAD Italian Stroke Organization-Group, has recently been published in the National Guideline System and shared with the Italian Society of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery (SICVE) and other Scientific Societies and Patient's Association. Methods: GRADE-SIGN version, AGREE quality of reporting checklist. Clinical questions formulated according to the PICO model. Recommendations developed based on clinical questions by a multidisciplinary experts' panel and patients' representatives. Systematic reviews performed for each PICO question. Considered judgements filled by assessing the evidence level, direction, and strength of the recommendations. Results: The panel provided indications and recommendations for appropriate, comprehensive, and individualized management of patients with carotid stenosis. Diagnostic and therapeutic processes of the best medical therapy, carotid endarterectomy (CEA), carotid stenting (CAS) according to the evidences and the judged opinions were included. Symptomatic carotid stenosis in elective and emergency, asymptomatic carotid stenosis, association with ischemic heart disease, preoperative diagnostics, types of anesthesia, monitoring in case of CEA, CEA techniques, comparison between CEA and CAS, post-surgical carotid restenosis, and medical therapy are the main topics, even with analysis of uncertainty areas for risk-benefit assessments in the individual patient (personalized medicine [PM]). Conclusions: This GL updates on the main recommendations for the most appropriate diagnostic and medical-surgical management of patients with atherosclerotic carotid artery stenosis to prevent ischemic stroke. This GL also provides useful elements for the application of PM in good clinical practice

Impairment of daytime cerebrovascular reactivity in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome

Several studies have demonstrated a clear association between snoring, sleep apnoea and increased risk of stroke. However, the possible role of sleep apnoea in the pathophysiogenetic mechanisms of cerebrovascular disease is still unknown. Our aim in this study was to investigate cerebral haemodynamic changes during the waking state in eight patients with sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) by means of transcranial Doppler (TCD). In particular, we studied cerebral vascular reactivity (CVR) to hypercapnia calculated by means of the breath holding index (BHI). The investigation was performed in the early morning, soon after awakening, and in the late afternoon. Data were compared with those of eight healthy subjects matched for age and vascular risk factors. OSAS patients showed significantly lower BHI values with respect to controls both in the morning (0.56 vs. 1.36; P < 0.0001) and in the afternoon (1.12 vs. 1.53; P < 0.0001). In patients, BHI values in the afternoon were significantly higher than in the morning (P < 0.0001). These data demonstrate a diminished vasodilator reserve in OSAS patients, particularly evident in the morning. This reduction of the possibility of cerebral vessels to adapt functionally in response to stimulation could be linked to hyposensitivity of cerebrovascular chemoreceptors after the continuous stress caused by nocturnal hypercapnia

Cytotoxin-associated gene-A - Positive Helicobacter pylori strains infection increases the risk of recurrent atherosclerotic stroke

CagA-positive Helicobacter pylori infection has been found to be associated with a first-ever atherosclerotic stroke. The aim of this study was to investigate whether these strains represent an independent risk factor for recurrent atherosclerotic stroke. We performed a longitudinal study of patients with a first-ever large vessels stroke and resulted positive at H. pylori serology. Patients had clinical examination 1 month after the acute event, and were subsequently visited or contacted by telephone up to 3 years at 6-month intervals. Sera obtained at the time of enrollment were frozen and analyzed for the presence of anti-CagA antibodies at the end of the study. The primary outcome event was any fatal or nonfatal stroke after the index stroke. One hundred seventy H. pylori-positive patients were included (n = 68 CagA positive and n = 102 CagA negative). No significant difference regarding age and other stroke risk factors was detected. According to Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, CagA-positive patients showed a significantly higher risk for stroke recurrence than CagA-negative ones (45.6% vs 17.6%; p < .001). Difference in the rate of recurrent stroke between the two groups persisted after Cox regression analysis taking into account possible confounding factors (hazard ratio = 3.5; 95% CI = 1.9-6.4; p < .001). Infection with H. pylori CagA-positive strains increases the risk of recurrent atherosclerotic stroke. Seropositivity determination should be performed in order to identify high-risk patients requiring a strict clinical surveillance, and the possible beneficial effect of eradication therapy should be evaluated