Editorial: Understanding PFO-associated stroke

Cryptogenic stroke; Paradoxical embolismIctus criptogènic; Embòlia paradoxalIctus criptogénico; Embolia paradójic

Neuroimaging and clinical outcomes of oral anticoagulant-associated intracerebral hemorrhage

Objective Methods Whether intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) associated with non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOAC-ICH) has a better outcome compared to ICH associated with vitamin K antagonists (VKA-ICH) is uncertain. We performed a systematic review and individual patient data meta-analysis of cohort studies comparing clinical and radiological outcomes between NOAC-ICH and VKA-ICH patients. The primary outcome measure was 30-day all-cause mortality. All outcomes were assessed in multivariate regression analyses adjusted for age, sex, ICH location, and intraventricular hemorrhage extension. Results Interpretation We included 7 eligible studies comprising 219 NOAC-ICH and 831 VKA-ICH patients (mean age = 77 years, 52.5% females). The 30-day mortality was similar between NOAC-ICH and VKA-ICH (24.3% vs 26.5%; hazard ratio = 0.94, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.67-1.31). However, in multivariate analyses adjusting for potential confounders, NOAC-ICH was associated with lower admission National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score (linear regression coefficient = -2.83, 95% CI = -5.28 to -0.38), lower likelihood of severe stroke (NIHSS > 10 points) on admission (odds ratio [OR] = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.30-0.84), and smaller baseline hematoma volume (linear regression coefficient = -0.24, 95% CI = -0.47 to -0.16). The two groups did not differ in the likelihood of baseline hematoma volume <30cm(3) (OR = 1.14, 95% CI = 0.81-1.62), hematoma expansion (OR = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.63-1.48), in-hospital mortality (OR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.49-1.11), functional status at discharge (common OR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.57-1.07), or functional status at 3 months (common OR = 1.03, 95% CI = 0.75-1.43). Although functional outcome at discharge, 1 month, or 3 months was comparable after NOAC-ICH and VKA-ICH, patients with NOAC-ICH had smaller baseline hematoma volumes and less severe acute stroke syndromes. Ann Neurol 2018;84:702-712Peer reviewe

Lacunar Infarcts and Intracerebral Hemorrhage Differences

Background and purposeLacunar stroke (LS) and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) are 2 diverse manifestations of small vessel disease. What predisposes some patients to ischemic stroke and others to hemorrhage is not well understood.MethodsWe performed a nested case-control study within the FHS (Framingham Heart Study) comparing people with incident ICH and lacunar ischemic stroke, to age- and sex-matched controls for baseline prevalence and levels of cardiovascular risk factors.ResultsWe identified 118 LS (mean age 74 years, 51% male) and 108 ICH (75 years, 46% male) events. Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking, and obesity were strongly associated with LS. Hypertension, but not diabetes mellitus, smoking, or cholesterol levels increased the odds of ICH. Contrary to LS, ICH cases had lower body mass index (BMI) than their controls (26 versus 27); BMI &lt;20 was associated with 4-fold higher odds for ICH. In direct comparison, LS cases had higher BMI (28 versus 26) and obesity prevalence (odds ratio, 3.1); BMI &lt;20 was associated with significantly lower odds of LS (odds ratio, 0.1).ConclusionsLS and ICH share hypertension, but not diabetes mellitus, as a common risk factor. ICH cases had lower BMI compared with not only LS but their controls as well; this finding is unexplained and merits further exploration

Quantitative microstructural deficits in chronic phase of stroke with small volume infarcts: A Diffusion Tensor 3-D Tractographic Analysis

BACKGROUND: Non-infarct zone white matter wallerian degeneration is well-documented in large volume territorial infarctions. However to what extent these abnormalities exist in small volume infarction is not known, particularly since routine T2/FLAIR MR images show minimal changes in such cases. We therefore utilized DTI based quantitative 3D tractography for quantitative assessment of white matter integrity in chronic phase of small volume anterior circulation infarcts. METHODS: Eleven chronic stroke subjects with small anterior circulation large vessel infarcts ( \u3c /=10 cc volume of primary infarct) were compared with 8 age matched controls. These infarcts had negligible to mild gliosis and encephalomalacia in the primary infarct territory without obvious wallerian degeneration on conventional MRI. Quantitative Diffusion Tensor 3-D tractography was performed for CST, genu and splenium of corpus callosum. Tract based Trace and fractional anisotropy (FA) was compared with age matched controls. RESULTS: On univariate analysis, Chronic stroke subjects had significant elevation in Trace measurement in genu of corpus callosum (GCC), ipsilesional and contralesional CST, (p \u3c 0.05), compared to controls. After adjusting for smoking, hypertension (HTN) and non-specific white matter hyperintensities, (WMHs), there was significant elevation in trace within the ipsilesional CST (p=0.05). Contralesional CST FA correlated significantly with walking speed, r=0.67, p=0.03. CONCLUSIONS: Stroke subjects with small volume infarcts demonstrate significant quantitative microstructural white matter abnormalities in chronic phase, which are otherwise subthreshold for detection on routine imaging. Ability to quantify these changes provides an important marker for assessing non-infarct zone neuroaxonal integrity in the chronic phase even in the setting of small infarction

Lacunar Infarcts and Intracerebral Hemorrhage Differences

Background and purposeLacunar stroke (LS) and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) are 2 diverse manifestations of small vessel disease. What predisposes some patients to ischemic stroke and others to hemorrhage is not well understood.MethodsWe performed a nested case-control study within the FHS (Framingham Heart Study) comparing people with incident ICH and lacunar ischemic stroke, to age- and sex-matched controls for baseline prevalence and levels of cardiovascular risk factors.ResultsWe identified 118 LS (mean age 74 years, 51% male) and 108 ICH (75 years, 46% male) events. Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, smoking, and obesity were strongly associated with LS. Hypertension, but not diabetes mellitus, smoking, or cholesterol levels increased the odds of ICH. Contrary to LS, ICH cases had lower body mass index (BMI) than their controls (26 versus 27); BMI &lt;20 was associated with 4-fold higher odds for ICH. In direct comparison, LS cases had higher BMI (28 versus 26) and obesity prevalence (odds ratio, 3.1); BMI &lt;20 was associated with significantly lower odds of LS (odds ratio, 0.1).ConclusionsLS and ICH share hypertension, but not diabetes mellitus, as a common risk factor. ICH cases had lower BMI compared with not only LS but their controls as well; this finding is unexplained and merits further exploration

Incidence of Transient Ischemic Attack and Association With Long-term Risk of Stroke

Importance: Accurate estimation of the association between transient ischemic attack (TIA) and risk of subsequent stroke can help to improve preventive efforts and limit the burden of stroke in the population. Objective: To determine population-based incidence of TIA and the timing and long-term trends of stroke risk after TIA. Design, setting, and participants: Retrospective cohort study (Framingham Heart Study) of prospectively collected data of 14 059 participants with no history of TIA or stroke at baseline, followed up from 1948-December 31, 2017. A sample of TIA-free participants was matched to participants with first incident TIA on age and sex (ratio, 5:1). Exposures: Calendar time (TIA incidence calculation, time-trends analyses), TIA (matched longitudinal cohort). Main outcomes and measures: The main outcomes were TIA incidence rates; proportion of stroke occurring after TIA in the short term (7, 30, and 90 days) vs the long term (>1-10 years); stroke after TIA vs stroke among matched control participants without TIA; and time trends of stroke risk at 90 days after TIA assessed in 3 epochs: 1954-1985, 1986-1999, and 2000-2017. Results: Among 14 059 participants during 66 years of follow-up (366 209 person-years), 435 experienced TIA (229 women; mean age, 73.47 [SD, 11.48] years and 206 men; mean age, 70.10 [SD, 10.64] years) and were matched to 2175 control participants without TIA. The estimated incidence rate of TIA was 1.19/1000 person-years. Over a median of 8.86 years of follow-up after TIA, 130 participants (29.5%) had a stroke; 28 strokes (21.5%) occurred within 7 days, 40 (30.8%) occurred within 30 days, 51 (39.2%) occurred within 90 days, and 63 (48.5%) occurred more than 1 year after the index TIA; median time to stroke was 1.64 (interquartile range, 0.07-6.6) years. The age- and sex-adjusted cumulative 10-year hazard of incident stroke for patients with TIA (130 strokes among 435 cases) was 0.46 (95% CI, 0.39-0.55) and for matched control participants without TIA (165 strokes among 2175) was 0.09 (95% CI, 0.08-0.11); fully adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 4.37 (95% CI, 3.30-5.71; P < .001). Compared with the 90-day stroke risk after TIA in 1948-1985 (16.7%; 26 strokes among 155 patients with TIA), the risk between 1986-1999 was 11.1% (18 strokes among 162 patients) and between 2000-2017 was 5.9% (7 strokes among 118 patients). Compared with the first epoch, the HR for 90-day risk of stroke in the second epoch was 0.60 (95% CI, 0.33-1.12) and in the third epoch was 0.32 (95% CI, 0.14-0.75) (P = .005 for trend). Conclusions and relevance: In this population-based cohort study from 1948-2017, the estimated crude TIA incidence was 1.19/1000 person-years, the risk of stroke was significantly greater after TIA compared with matched control participants who did not have TIA, and the risk of stroke after TIA was significantly lower in the most recent epoch from 2000-2017 compared with an earlier period from 1948-1985

Posterior communicating and vertebral artery configuration and outcome in endovascular treatment of acute basilar artery occlusion

BackgroundWe aimed to evaluate if vertebrobasilar anatomic variations impact reperfusion and outcome in intra-arterial therapy (IAT) for basilar artery occlusion (BAO).MethodsConsecutive BAO patients with symptom onset <24 h treated with IAT were included. Vertebral artery (VA) V3 and posterior communicating artery (PCoA) diameters were measured (CT angiography or MR angiography). The presence of PCoA atresia, VA hypoplasia, VAs that end in the posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA), and extracranial VA occlusion was recorded.Results38 BAO patients were included. Mean age was 63±15 years; 52% were men. Baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score was 21±9, and mean/median time from symptom onset to IAT were 10/7 h. First generation thrombectomy devices were mostly used. Overall Treatment in Cerebral Ischemia 2b-3 reperfusion was 68.4%. Good outcome (modified Rankin Scale score ≤2) was observed in 17.8% and mortality in 64.3% of cases at 90 days. 55% of patients had an atretic PCoA while 47% had a hypoplastic VA. The mean sum of the bilateral PCoA and VA diameters were 2.3±1.2 and 5.2±5.2 mm, respectively. VAs that end in the PICA was noted in 23% of patients, and extracranial VA occlusion in 42%. BAO was proximal/mid/distal in 36%/29%/34%. Multivariate linear regression analysis indicated hypertensive disease (β=2.97; 95% CI 1.15 to 4.79; p<0.01) and reperfusion rate (β=−0.40; 95% CI −0.74 to −0.70; p=0.02) independently associated with outcome. Multivariate analysis for predictors of reperfusion failed to identify other associations. A trend for better reperfusion with stent retrievers was noted (β=1.82; 95% CI −0.24 to 3.88; p=0.08).ConclusionsReperfusion emerged as a predictor of good outcome in patients that underwent IAT for BAO. Angioarchitectural variations of the posterior circulation were not found to impact reperfusion or clinical outcome