The Retrobulbar Spot Sign and Prominent Middle Limiting Membrane as Prognostic Markers in Non-Arteritic Retinal Artery Occlusion

Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is characterized by the sudden, painless loss of vision. Typical sonographic and optic coherence tomography (OCT) findings are a retrobulbar spot sign and prominent middle limiting membrane (p-MLM) sign. It remains uncertain whether the retrobulbar spot sign alone or coinciding with the appearance of p-MLM sign is a prognostic marker for visual acuity and the development of secondary retinal ischemia after CRAO. In our prospective cohort study, we included patients with a non-arteritic central artery occlusion < 4 weeks. We examined the following parameters at prespecified time points: ultrasound examination of orbital cavity, Spectral Domain-OCT examination, visual acuity test, and fundoscopy and ultra-widefield angiography to diagnose retinal vascularization. The presence of p-MLM sign in SD-OCT after CRAO was accompanied by significantly better vision during the first four weeks (2.3 (IQR 0.75) vs. 2.6 (IQR 0.33); p = 0.006). Moreover, the spot sign seems to be a prognostic factor for developing secondary retinal ischemia (8 (100%) vs. 0 (0%); p = 0.036). A retrobulbar spot sign seems to be a negative prognostic factor and is associated with secondary retinal ischemia, whereas a p-MLM sign is a somewhat positive prognostic factor for visual acuity

Influence of beta-blocker therapy on the risk of infections and death in patients at high risk for stroke induced immunodepression.

Stroke-induced immunodepression is a well characterized complication of acute ischemic stroke. In experimental studies beta-blocker therapy reversed stroke-induced immunodepression, reduced infection rates and mortality. Recent, heterogeneous studies in stroke patients could not provide evidence of a protective effect of beta-blocker therapy. Aim of this study is to investigate the potential preventive effect of beta-blockers in subgroups of patients at high risk for stroke-induced immunodepression.Data from a prospectively derived registry of major stroke patients receiving endovascular therapy between 2011-2017 in a tertiary stroke center (University Medical Center Göttingen. Germany) was used. The effect of beta-blocker therapy on pneumonia, urinary tract infection, sepsis and mortality was assessed using multivariate logistic regression analysis.Three hundred six patients with a mean age of 72 ± 13 years and a median NIHSS of 16 (IQR 10.75-20) were included. 158 patients (51.6%) had pre-stroke- and continued beta-blocker therapy. Beta-blocker therapy did not reduce the incidence of pneumonia (OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.31-1.92, p = 0.584), urinary tract infections (OR 1.51, 0.88-2.60, p = 0.135), sepsis (OR 0.57, 0.18-1.80, p = 0.334) or mortality (OR 0.59, 0.16-2.17, p = 0.429). Strokes involving the insula and anterio-medial cortex increased the risk for pneumonia (OR 4.55, 2.41-8.56, p<0.001) and sepsis (OR 4.13, 1.81-9.43, p = 0.001), while right hemispheric strokes increased the risk for pneumonia (OR 1.60, 0.92-2.77, p = 0.096). There was a non-significantly increased risk for urinary tract infections in patients with beta-blocker therapy and insula/anterio-medial cortex strokes (OR 3.12, 95% CI 0.88-11.05, p = 0.077) with no effect of beta-blocker therapy on pneumonia, sepsis or mortality in both subgroups.In major ischemic stroke patients, beta-blocker therapy did not lower post-stroke infection rates and was associated with urinary tract infections in a subgroup with insula/anterio-medial strokes

Comparing the diagnostic value of Echocardiography In Stroke (CEIS) – results of a prospective observatory cohort study

Background!#!Echocardiography is one of the main diagnostic tools for the diagnostic workup of stroke and is already well integrated into the clinical workup. However, the value of transthoracic vs. transesophageal echocardiography (TTE/TEE) in stroke patients is still a matter of debate. Aim of this study was to characterize relevant findings of TTE and TEE in the management of stroke patients and to correlate them with subsequent clinical decisions and therapies.!##!Methods!#!We evaluated n = 107 patients admitted with an ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack to our stroke unit of our university medical center. They underwent TTE and TEE examination by different blinded investigators.!##!Results!#!Major cardiac risk factors were found in 8 of 98 (8.2%) patients and minor cardiac risk factors for stroke were found in 108 cases. We found a change in therapeutic regime after TTE or TEE in 22 (22.5%) cases, in 5 (5%) cases TEE leads to the change of therapeutic regime, in 4 (4%) TTE and in 13 cases (13.3%) TTE and TEE lead to the same change in therapeutic regime. The major therapy change was the indication to close a patent foramen ovale (PFO) in 9 (9.2%) patients with TTE and in 10 (10.2%) patients with TEE (p = 1.000).!##!Conclusion!#!Major finding with clinical impact on therapy change is the detection of PFO. But for the detection of PFO, TTE is non inferior to TEE, implicating that TTE serves as a good screening tool for detection of PFO, especially in young age patients.!##!Trial registration!#!The trial was registered and approved prior to inclusion by our local ethics committee (1/3/17)

Clot reduction prior to embolectomy: mSAVE as a first-line technique for large clots.

IntroductionThe "Stent retriever Assisted Vacuum-locked Extraction" (SAVE) technique is a promising embolectomy method for intracranial large vessel occlusion (LVO). We report our experience using a modified SAVE (mSAVE) approach for clot reduction prior to embolectomy in acute ischemic stroke patients with large clots.Materials and methodsWe retrospectively analyzed 20 consecutive patients undergoing mSAVE in our center due to intracranial LVO. Angiographic data (including first-pass and overall complete reperfusion, defined as an expanded Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (eTICI) score of 3, rate of successful reperfusion (eTICI ≥2c), number of passes, time from groin puncture to reperfusion) and clinical data (favorable outcome at 90 days, defined as modified Rankin Scale (mRS) ≤2) were assessed.ResultsFirst-pass and overall eTICI 3 reperfusion was reached in 13/20 (65%) and 14/20 (70%), respectively. The rate of successful reperfusion (eTICI ≥2c) after one pass was 85% and on final angiogram 90% with an average number of 1.1 ± 0.3 attempts. Eight out of 11 (73%) ICA occlusions were reperfused successfully and 5 (46%) completely after a single pass. Median groin to reperfusion time was 33 minutes (IQR 25-46). A favorable clinical outcome was achieved in 9/20 (45%) patients at discharge and after 90 days, respectively.ConclusionClot reduction followed by embolectomy (mSAVE) is feasible and may be an important tool in the treatment of large clots

Pneumonia, urinary tract infection, sepsis and mortality in patients with insula/anterio-medial strokes with- and without beta-blocker therapy.

<p>Pneumonia, urinary tract infection, sepsis and mortality in patients with insula/anterio-medial strokes with- and without beta-blocker therapy.</p

Uni- and multivariate logistic regression models for the association between beta-blocker therapy, post-stroke infections and mortality.

<p>Uni- and multivariate logistic regression models for the association between beta-blocker therapy, post-stroke infections and mortality.</p

Predictive value of imaging parameters for hemicraniectomy

<p>Predictive value of imaging parameters for hemicraniectomy</p

Multimodal stroke imaging from a patient with endovascular therapy and decompressive hemicraniectomy CT-slices are shown in insular (left), ganglionic (middle) and supraganglionic levels from left to right.

<p>(a) ncCT on baseline presentation with an ASPECTS of 5, a symptom-to-CT time of 118 min and a baseline NIHSS of 12. (b) Cerebral blood volume on baseline with an ASPECTS of 3. (c) DSA before EVT with mTICI 0 and (d) after EVT with successful recanalization. (e) follow up ncCT with temporal edematous swelling compressing the right anterior horn of the lateral ventricle. (f) ncCT after DH with infarct demarcation of the territorial infarction of the medial cerebral artery circulation. ncCT: non-contrast cranial computed tomography; ASPECTS: Alberta Stroke Program Early CT score; NIHSS: National Institute of Health Stroke Scale; DSA: digital subtraction angiography; EVT: endovascular therapy; mTICI: modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction score.</p