The prognostic significance of large vessel occlusion in stroke patients treated by intravenous thrombolysis

Purpose: According to guidelines, to shorten the treatment window, acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) treatment by intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) can be done based on the results of head computed tomography (CT) without contrast. The impact of large vessel occlusion (LVO) on computed tomography angiography (CTA) in stroke prognosis in patients treated IVT or IVT and mechanical thrombectomy (MT), where indicated, has not yet been studied systematically. We investigated the influence of LVO in consecutive AIS patients on haemorrhagic transformation (HT) on CT 24 h after treatment, mRS < 2 on discharge (unfavourable outcome), and in-hospital mortality. Material and methods: We analysed several parameters within 24 h after AIS: demographics, risk factors, mRS score pre-stroke, NIHSS upon admission and 24 h later, several clinical and biochemical parameters, and chronic treatment. Results: We registered 1209 patients, of whom 362 (29.9%) received IVT and 108 had MT, where indicated. Admission CTA showed LVO in 197 patients (54.4%). Multivariate regression analysis showed that the presence of LVO and lower delta NIHSS (NIHSS on admission minus NIHSS 24 hours later) were independent parameters affecting HT risk. Multivariate analysis showed that the presence LVO and also older age, female sex, lower delta NIHSS, HT, stroke-associated infection, CRP levels ≥ 10 mg/L, and higher WBC count affected unfavourable outcome on discharge. LVO did not affect in-hospital mortality. Conclusions: LVO in AIS patients treated by IVT or IVT and MT affects the risk of HT and unfavourable short-term outcome but not in-hospital mortality

Mechanical thrombectomy for acute ischaemic stroke during therapeutic anticoagulation: long-term outcomes

Aim of study. Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is one of the aetiological treatment options recommended for anticoagulated patients with acute ischaemic stroke (AIS). We analysed its long-term outcomes using the modified Rankin Score (mRS) or mortality on day 90.Clinical rationale for the study. Data describing the anticoagulant efficacy and safety of MT in patients with AIS is limited.Materials and methods. This study included 291 patients with AIS (49% women, mean [SD] age 66 [15] years) who underwent MT in the Comprehensive Stroke Centre in Krakow, Poland. Data describing demographics, stroke risk factors, NIHSS on admission, postprocedural thrombolysis in cerebral infarction score, 24-hour postprocedural haemorrhagic transformation (ECASS-2) as seen on computed tomography, and time between stroke onset and groin puncture was collected. The outcome measure was the mRS on day 90 after stroke onset (a favourable outcome was defined as an mRS not exceeding 2 points; an unfavourable outcome was death).Results. Thirty-seven patients (13%) were on therapeutic anticoagulation during MT. Univariate analysis showed that anticoagulated patients were older and more likely to have been diagnosed with hypertension, ischaemic heart disease, or atrial fibrillation. The patient groups did not differ in terms of clot location, postprocedural thrombolysis in cerebral infarction score, haemorrhagic transformation on computed tomography, or mRS on day 90. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that younger age, male sex, no history of diabetes mellitus, lower NIHSS score on admission, shorter time between stroke onset and groin puncture, and better recanalisation were associated with favourable outcomes at day 90, and that therapeutic anticoagulation was not (OR, 1.00; 95%CI, 0.46-2.15; p = 0.99). Anticoagulation did not affect mortality at day 90 (OR, 1.28; 95%CI, 0.56-2.92; p = 0.55).Conclusion and clinical implications. In anticoagulated patients with AIS, MT does not affect long-term outcomes

Time from stroke onset to groin puncture affects rate of recanalisation after mechanical thrombectomy: a real-life single centre experience

Aim of the study. We investigated whether the time elapsed between stroke onset and groin puncture (SO-GP) affects the rate of recanalisation as measured by the Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (TICI) scale.Clinical rationale for the study. There is no doubt that the effectiveness of thrombolysis in acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) is time-dependent. There is growing evidence that there is a correlation between SO-GP time and rate of recanalisation in patients treated by mechanical thrombectomy (MT).Materials and methods. This study was performed in patients treated in the Comprehensive Stroke Centre in Krakow that covers 3.5 million inhabitants. The following data was collected for this study: demographics, stroke risk factors, transportation (directly from home or via another hospital), admission NIHSS, IV rt-PA administration prior to MT, the number of passes used during MT, and SO-GP time. The favourable outcome measure was TICI 2b or 3.Results. 223 patients (48.4% females; mean age: 66.0 ± 16.6 years) with anterior circulation strokes were treated by MT; 64.6% arrived directly from home. Mean admission NIHSS was 15.6 ± 5.3. IV rtPA was administered in 68.6% of patients. At least two thrombectomy passes were required in 20.6% of cases. Median SO-GP time was 240 minutes (IQR range: 180–305 minutes). Grade 3 or 2b TICI scores were obtained in 70.4% of patients. Univariate logistic regression showed that among all studied parameters, only NIHSS affected the rate of recanalisation, but in a multivariate logistic regression model, the only parameter that affected the rate of recanalisation was the SO-GP time (OR = 0.76; 95% CI: 0.60-0.98, p = 0.03).Conclusions and clinical implications. We suggest that SO-GP time affects the rate of recanalisation in patients with MT