Escassez de neurologistas na Amazônia brasileira.

Brazil is an emerging country with increasing economic development in the last 20 years and with the seventh richest economy in the world. However, Brazil's ranking on the United Nations Human Development Index (79th position, based on 2014 data) is paradoxically low compared to its economic status. The continental dimensions of Brazil widen the inequalities between its regions, and the Amazon is the least developed area in the country. In this article, we discuss some of the reasons for the shortage of neurologists in the Brazilian Amazon. In addition, we discuss possible new strategies to reduce these inequalities in public health in the near future.O Brasil é um país emergente com crescente desenvolvimento econômico nos últimos 20 anos e com a sétima economia mais rica do mundo. No entanto, o ranking do Brasil no Índice de Desenvolvimento Humano das Nações Unidas (79ª posição, com base em dados de 2014) é paradoxalmente baixo em comparação com seu status econômico. As dimensões continentais do Brasil ampliam as desigualdades entre suas regiões, e a Amazônia é a área menos desenvolvida do país. Neste artigo, discutimos algumas das razões para a escassez de neurologistas na Amazônia brasileira. Além disso, discutimos possíveis novas estratégias para diminuir essas desigualdades em saúde pública em um futuro próximo

Case report: Flow changes in routes of collateral circulation in patients with LVO and low NIHSS: a point favor to treat

The effectiveness of endovascular thrombectomy in patients presenting low National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores remains controversial, and the acquisition of additional evidence is required to refine the selection of candidates who may benefit the most from this therapeutic modality. In this study, we present the case of a 62-year-old individual, with left internal carotid occlusion stroke and low NIHSS, who had compensatory collateral flow from Willis polygon via the anterior communicating artery. The patient subsequently exhibited neurological deterioration and collateral flow failure from Willis polygon, indicating the need for urgent intervention. The study of collaterals in patients with large vessel occlusion stroke has garnered considerable attention, with research suggesting that individuals with low NIHSS scores and poor collateral profiles may be at a heightened risk of early neurological deterioration. We postulate that such patients may derive significant benefits from endovascular thrombectomy, and may posit that an intensive transcranial Doppler monitoring protocol could facilitate the identification of suitable candidates for such intervention

Outcomes of carotid artery stenting at a high-volume Brazilian interventional neuroradiology center

OBJECTIVES: Carotid artery stenting is an emerging revascularization alternative to carotid endarterectomy. However, guidelines have recommended carotid artery stenting only if the rate of periprocedural stroke or death is < 6% among symptomatic patients and < 3% among asymptomatic patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare clinical outcomes of symptomatic and asymptomatic patients who had undergone carotid artery stenting as a first-intention treatment. METHOD: A retrospective analysis of patients who underwent carotid artery stenting by our interventional neuroradiology team was conducted. Patients were divided into two groups: symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. The primary endpoints were ipsilateral ischemic stroke, ipsilateral parenchymal hemorrhage and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events at 30 days. The secondary endpoints included ipsilateral ischemic stroke, ipsilateral parenchymal hemorrhage, ipsilateral transient ischemic attack and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events between the 1- and 12-month follow-ups. RESULTS: A total of 200 consecutive patients were evaluated. The primary endpoints obtained in the symptomatic vs. asymptomatic groups were ipsilateral stroke (2.4% vs. 2.7%, p = 1.00), ipsilateral parenchymal hemorrhage (0.8% vs. 0.0%, p = 1.00) and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (4.7% vs. 2.7%, p = 0.71). The secondary endpoints obtained in the symptomatic vs. asymptomatic groups were ipsilateral ischemic stroke (0.0% vs. 0.0%), ipsilateral parenchymal hemorrhage (0.0% vs. 0.0%), ipsilateral TIA (0.0% vs. 0.0%, p = 1.00) and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (11.2% vs. 4.1%, p = 0.11). CONCLUSIONS: In this retrospective study, carotid artery stenting was similarly safe and effective when performed as a first-intention treatment in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. The study results comply with the safety requirements from current recommendations to perform carotid artery stenting as an alternative treatment to carotid endarterectomy

Lipid-lowering pretreatment and outcome following intravenous thrombolysis for acute ischaemic stroke: a post hoc analysis of the enhanced control of hypertension and thrombolysis stroke study trial

Background: Debate exists as to whether statin pretreatment confers an increased risk of 90-day mortality and symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage (sICH) in acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis. We assessed the effects of undifferentiated lipid-lowering pretreatment on outcomes and interaction with low-dose versus standard-dose alteplase in a post hoc subgroup ­analysis of the Enhanced Control of Hypertension and Thrombolysis Stroke Study. Methods: In all, 3,284 thrombolysis-eligible AIS patients (mean age 66.6 years; 38% women), with information on lipid-lowering pretreatment, were randomly assigned to low-dose (0.6 mg/kg) or standard-dose (0.9 mg/kg) intravenous alteplase within 4.5 h of symptom onset. Of the total number of patients, 615 (19%) received statin or other lipid-lowering pretreatment. The primary clinical outcome was combined endpoint of death or disability (modified Rankin Scale scores 2–6) at 90 days. Results: Compared with patients with no lipid-lowering pretreatment, those with lipid-lowering pretreatment were significantly older, more likely to be non-Asian and more likely to have a medical history including vascular co-morbidity. After propensity analysis assessment and adjustment for important baseline variables at the time of randomisation, as well as imbalances in management during the first 7 days of hospital admission, there were no significant differences in mortality (OR 0.85; 95% CI 0.58–1.25, p = 0.42), or in overall ­90-day death and disability (OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.67–1.09, p = 0.19), despite a significant decrease in sICH among those with ­lipid-lowering pretreatment according to the European Co-operative Acute Stroke Study 2 definition (OR 0.49, 95% CI 0.28–0.83, p = 0.009). No differences in key efficacy or safety outcomes were seen in patients with and without lipid-lowering pretreatment between low- and standard-dose alteplase arms. Conclusions: Lipid-lowering pretreatment is not associated with adverse outcome in AIS patients treated with intravenous alteplase, whether assessed by 90-day death and disability or death alone

Perceived stress in elderly stroke survivors after hospital discharge to home

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the relationship between perceived stress and comorbidities, neurological deficit, functional independence and depressive symptoms of stroke survivors after hospital discharge.METHODCross-sectional study with 90 elderly stroke survivors. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale instrument, the Functional Independence Measure instrument, the Geriatric Depression Scale and the Perceived Stress Scale were used. Bivariate Pearson correlation, independent t test and multiple regression analysis were used to evaluate the relationship between perceived stress and other variables.RESULTSThe final regression model showed that higher perceived stress was related to less functional independence (p= 0.022) and more depressive symptoms (pOBJETIVOAvaliar a relação entre o estresse percebido e comorbidades, déficit neurológico, independência funcional e sintomas depressivos dos sobreviventes do Acidente Vascular Cerebral (AVC) após a alta.MÉTODOEstudo transversal com 90 idosos sobreviventes do AVC. Foram utilizados os instrumentos National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale , Medida da Independência Funcional, Escala de Depressão Geriátrica e a Escala de Estresse Percebido. Correlação bivariada de Pearson, teste t independente e análise de regressão múltipla foram utilizados para avaliar as relações entre o estresse percebido e as outras variáveis.RESULTADOSO modelo final da regressão evidenciou que maior estresse percebido estava relacionado à menor independência funcional (p = 0,022) e ao maior número de sintomas depressivos (p < 0,001).CONCLUSÃONo momento da alta para casa, intervenções devem ser planejadas para o tratamento dos sintomas depressivos e para criar estratégias de adaptação à redução da independência funcional, a fim de reduzir o estresse dos sobreviventes.OBJETIVOEvaluar la relación entre el estrés percibido y comorbilidades, déficit neurológico, independencia funcional y síntomas depresivos de los supervivientes del Accidente Vascular Cerebral (AVC) después del alta.MÉTODOEstudio transversal con 90 ancianos supervivientes de AVC. Fueron empleados los instrumentos National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale , Medida de la Independencia Funcional, Escala de Depresión Geriátrica y Escala de Estrés Percibido. Correlación bivariada de Pearson, prueba t independiente y análisis de regresión múltiple fueron utilizados para valorar las relaciones entre el estrés percibido y las otras variables.RESULTADOSEl modelo final de la regresión evidenció que el mayor estrés percibido estaba relacionado con la menor independencia funcional (p=0,022) y el mayor número de síntomas depresivos (