Enoxaparin versus unfractionated heparin in acute ischemic stroke [in-evolution type] differential effects of enoxaparin on von Willebrand factor release and a possible relation to improved clinical outcomes

The significance of low-molecular-weight heparins [LMWHs] in the management of acute stroke remains controversial. One hundred patients with acute ischemic stroke in evolution were enrolled [with symptoms of stroke within eight hours of randomization]. Patients were randomized to receive Unfractionated Heparin [UFH] at a dose 5000 IU by IV bolus, followed by a continuous IV infusion; or to Enoxaparin [ENOX] at a dose of 0.5 mg per kilogram body weight. Therapy was continued for 10 days. National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale [NIHSS] and Computed Tomography [CT] scan were performed in all patients at the time of admission, and after 48 hours of randomization. It was found that, the mean baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Score [NIHSS] was 9.14 +/- 0.62 among patients randomized to UFH, vs. 7.86 +/- 0.54 among patients randomized to ENOX [p = 0.2]. At discharge, the mean NIHSS showed a statistically significant difference in favor of the ENOX group [7.9 +/- 0.82 for the UFH arm versus 4.96 +/- 0.54 for the ENOX arm; p = 0.002]. The mean NIHSS after therapy in patients who demonstrated neurological improvement was 5.6 +/- 0.46 in the UFH arm, as opposed to 3.65 +/- 0.39 in the ENOX arm [p = 0.001]. A deterioration in the clinical neurological condition [progressive stroke symptoms] inspite of treatment with anticoagulant therapy was seen in 20% [n = 10] of the patients in the UFH treatment arm and no patients in the ENOX treatment arm showed this condition [p = 0.005]. No statistically significant differences were observed for pulmonary embolism, deep venous thrombosis, recurrent strokes, or death. It was concluded that, Enoxaparin [+ aspirin] was superior to UFH [+ aspirin] in reducing adverse neurological disability after acute ischemic stroke in evolution. This superiority was not associated with reductions in mortality, and could be explained by blunting of von Willebrand factor release by Enoxaparin

Quantitative assessment of rehabilitation results in peripheral arterial disease

Peripheral arterial disease [PAD] patients are commonly classified on the basis of subjective evaluations of pain and fatigue. It could he important to have, at least, an objective measurement ofJƒtigue for better evaluation of muscle performance and exercise tolerance in such patients as well as for serial quantitative assessment of different vascular rehabilitation programs designed for claudications. Median frequency [MDF] analysis has been recently used to monitor electromyo graphic [EMG] power spectrum shift toward lower frequencies due to muscle fati gue. Twenty-five PAD patients and ten control subjects matched for age and sex were studied. Surface EMO was recorded over the medial gastrocnemius muscle along 40 seconds at maximal voluntaty contraction. The median frequency of the electromyoraphic power spectrum was calculated in the first 10 seconds [TO] and the last 10 seconds [T1]. Change from TO to T1 was statistically calculated and considered as the fatigue index [FI]. EMG reassessment was done for the patients' group after completing a physical training program. Significantly lower initial Ti values, compared with initial TO, were found in both the PAD and the control groups. A highly significant difference was documented regarding all the initial MDF parameters between the patient and control groups. Moreover, a highly significant difference was recorded between the initial and the post-rehabilitation FI in the patients' group. EMG frequency analysis can be considered an easy, painless, practical and reproducible method which has a high degree of precision and accuracy in providing objective information on the muscle performance and fatigue in PAD patients