Circulating Extracellular-Vesicle-Incorporated MicroRNAs as Potential Biomarkers for Ischemic Stroke in Patients With Cancer / 대한뇌졸중학회지

Background@#and Purpose This study aimed to evaluate whether extracellular-vesicle-incorporated microRNAs (miRNAs) are potential biomarkers for cancer-related stroke. @*Methods@#This cohort study compared patients with active cancer who had embolic stroke of unknown sources (cancer-stroke group) with patients with only cancer, patients with only stroke, and healthy individuals (control groups). The expression profiles of miRNAs encapsulated in plasma exosomes and microvesicles were evaluated using microarray and validated using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The XENO-QTM miRNA assay technology was used to determine the absolute copy numbers of individual miRNAs in an external validation cohort. @*Results@#This study recruited 220 patients, of which 45 had cancer-stroke, 76 were healthy controls, 39 were cancer controls, and 60 were stroke controls. Three miRNAs (miR-205-5p, miR-645, and miR-646) were specifically incorporated into microvesicles in patients with cancer-related stroke, cancer controls, and stroke controls. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves of these three miRNAs were 0.7692–0.8510 for the differentiation of patients with cancer-stroke from cancer-controls and 0.8077–0.8846 for the differentiation of patients with cancer-stroke from stroke controls. The levels of several miRNAs were elevated in the plasma exosomes of patients with cancer, but were lower than those in plasma microvesicles. An in vivo study showed that systemic injection of miR-205-5p promoted the development of arterial thrombosis and elevation of D-dimer levels. @*Conclusion@#Stroke due to cancer-related coagulopathy was associated with deregulated expression of miRNAs, particularly microvesicle-incorporated miR-205-5p, miR-645, and miR-646. Further prospective studies of extracellular-vesicle-incorporated miRNAs are required to confirm the diagnostic role of miRNAs in patients with stroke and to screen the roles of miRNAs in patients with cancer.

Stroke-Specific Predictors of Major Bleeding in Anticoagulated Patients With Stroke and Atrial Fibrillation: A Nationwide Multicenter Registry-Based Study

Background@#and Purpose The congestive heart failure, hypertension, age, diabetes, previous stroke/transient ischemic attack (CHA2DS2-VASc) and hypertension, abnormal renal/liver function, stroke, bleeding history or predisposition, labile international normalized ratio, elderly, drugs/alcohol (HAS-BLED) scores have been validated in estimating the risks of ischemic stroke and major bleeding, respectively, in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). This study investigated stroke-specific predictors of major bleeding in patients with stroke and AF who were taking oral anticoagulants (OACs). @*Methods@#Subjects were selected from patients enrolled in the Korean ATrial fibrillaTion EvaluatioN regisTry in Ischemic strOke patieNts (K-ATTENTION) nationwide multicenter registry between 2013 and 2015. Patients were excluded if they were not taking OACs, had no brain imaging data, or had intracranial bleeding directly related to the index stroke. Major bleeding was defined according to International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis criteria. Cox regression analyses were performed to assess the associations between clinical variables and major bleeding and Kaplan-Meier estimates were performed to analyze event-free survival. @*Results@#Of a total of 3,213 patients, 1,414 subjects (mean age of 72.6 years, 52.5% males) were enrolled in this study. Major bleeding was reported in 34 patients during the median follow-up period of 1.73 years. Multivariable analysis demonstrated that initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale scores (hazard ratio [HR] 1.07, p=0.006), hypertension (HR 3.18, p=0.030), persistent AF type (HR 2.51, p=0.016), and initial hemoglobin level (HR 0.74, p=0.001) were independently associated with major bleeding risk. Except for hypertension, these associations remained significant after adjusting for the HAS-BLED score. Intracranial atherosclerosis presented a trend of association without statistical significance (HR 2.21, p=0.050). @*Conclusions@#This study found that major bleeding risk was independently associated with stroke-specific factors in anticoagulated patients with stroke and AF. This has the clinical implication that baseline characteristics of patients with stroke and AF should be considered in secondary prevention, which would bring the net clinical benefit of balancing recurrent stroke prevention with minimal bleeding complications.

Treatment results of carotid endarterectomy and carotid artery stenting for patients with radiation-induced carotid stenosis

Purpose@#Exposure to ionizing radiation over the head and neck accelerates atherosclerotic changes in the carotid arteries. Owing to the characteristics of radiation-induced carotid stenosis (RICS), the results regarding the optimal revascularization method for RICS vary. This study compared treatment outcomes between carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid artery stenting (CAS) in RICS. @*Methods@#This was a single-center retrospective review of consecutive patients who underwent CEA or CAS for carotid stenosis. RICS was defined as carotid stenosis (>50%) with the prior neck irradiation for cancer treatment on either side.For the analyses, demographics, comorbid conditions, carotid lesion characteristics based on imaging studies, surgical complications, neurologic outcomes, and mortality during the follow-up period were reviewed. To compare CEA and CAS results in RICS, a 1:1 propensity score matching was applied. @*Results@#Between November 1994 and June 2021, 43 patients with RICS and 2,407 patients with non-RICS underwent carotid revascularization with CEA or CAS. RICS had fewer atherosclerotic risk factors and more frequent severe carotid stenosis and contralateral carotid occlusions than non-RICS. CAS was more commonly performed than CEA (22.9% vs.77.1%) for RICS due to more frequent unfavorable carotid anatomy (0 vs. 16.2%). Procedure-related complications were more common in the CEA than in the CAS. However, there was no significant difference in neurologic outcomes and restenosis rates between CEA and CAS in RICS. @*Conclusion@#Considering its lesion characteristics and cumulative incidence, RICS requires more attention than non-RICS.Although CAS has broader indications for RICS, CEA has shown acceptable results if selectively performed.

How Cerebral Vessel Tortuosity Affects Development and Recurrence of Aneurysm: Outer Curvature versus Bifurcation Type / 대한뇌졸중학회지

Background@#and Purpose Previous studies have assessed the relationship between cerebral vessel tortuosity and intracranial aneurysm (IA) based on two-dimensional brain image analysis. We evaluated the relationship between cerebral vessel tortuosity and IA according to the hemodynamic location using three-dimensional (3D) analysis and studied the effect of tortuosity on the recurrence of treated IA. @*Methods@#We collected clinical and imaging data from patients with IA and disease-free controls. IAs were categorized into outer curvature and bifurcation types. Computerized analysis of the images provided information on the length of the arterial segment and tortuosity of the cerebral arteries in 3D space. @*Results@#Data from 95 patients with IA and 95 controls were analyzed. Regarding parent vessel tortuosity index (TI; P<0.01), average TI (P<0.01), basilar artery (BA; P=0.02), left posterior cerebral artery (P=0.03), both vertebral arteries (VAs; P<0.01), and right internal carotid artery (P<0.01), there was a significant difference only in the outer curvature type compared with the control group. The outer curvature type was analyzed, and the occurrence of an IA was associated with increased TI of the parent vessel, average, BA, right middle cerebral artery, and both VAs in the logistic regression analysis. However, in all aneurysm cases, recanalization of the treated aneurysm was inversely associated with increased TI of the parent vessels. @*Conclusions@#TIs of intracranial arteries are associated with the occurrence of IA, especially in the outer curvature type. IAs with a high TI in the parent vessel showed good outcomes with endovascular treatment.

How Cerebral Vessel Tortuosity Affects Development and Recurrence of Aneurysm: Outer Curvature versus Bifurcation Type / 대한뇌졸중학회지

Background@#and Purpose Previous studies have assessed the relationship between cerebral vessel tortuosity and intracranial aneurysm (IA) based on two-dimensional brain image analysis. We evaluated the relationship between cerebral vessel tortuosity and IA according to the hemodynamic location using three-dimensional (3D) analysis and studied the effect of tortuosity on the recurrence of treated IA. @*Methods@#We collected clinical and imaging data from patients with IA and disease-free controls. IAs were categorized into outer curvature and bifurcation types. Computerized analysis of the images provided information on the length of the arterial segment and tortuosity of the cerebral arteries in 3D space. @*Results@#Data from 95 patients with IA and 95 controls were analyzed. Regarding parent vessel tortuosity index (TI; P<0.01), average TI (P<0.01), basilar artery (BA; P=0.02), left posterior cerebral artery (P=0.03), both vertebral arteries (VAs; P<0.01), and right internal carotid artery (P<0.01), there was a significant difference only in the outer curvature type compared with the control group. The outer curvature type was analyzed, and the occurrence of an IA was associated with increased TI of the parent vessel, average, BA, right middle cerebral artery, and both VAs in the logistic regression analysis. However, in all aneurysm cases, recanalization of the treated aneurysm was inversely associated with increased TI of the parent vessels. @*Conclusions@#TIs of intracranial arteries are associated with the occurrence of IA, especially in the outer curvature type. IAs with a high TI in the parent vessel showed good outcomes with endovascular treatment.

Initiation of Guideline-Matched Oral Anticoagulant in Atrial Fibrillation-Related Stroke / 대한뇌졸중학회지

Background@#and Purpose To evaluate the outcome events and bleeding complications of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) guideline-matched oral anticoagulant therapy for patients with acute ischemic stroke and atrial fibrillation (AF). @*Methods@#Patients with acute ischemic stroke and AF from a nationwide multicenter registry (Korean ATrial fibrillaTion EvaluatioN regisTry in Ischemic strOke patieNts [K-ATTENTION]) between January 2013 and December 2015 were included in the study. Patients were divided into the ESC guideline-matched and the non-matched groups. The primary outcome was recurrence of any stroke during the 90-day follow-up period. Secondary outcomes were major adverse cerebrovascular and cardiovascular events, ischemic stroke, intracranial hemorrhage, acute coronary syndrome, allcause mortality, and major hemorrhage. Propensity score matching and logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the effect of the treatments administered. @*Results@#Among 2,321 eligible patients, 1,126 patients were 1:1 matched to the ESC guidelinematched and the non-matched groups. As compared with the non-matched group, the ESC guideline-matched group had a lower risk of any recurrent stroke (1.4% vs. 3.4%; odds ratio [OR], 0.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.18 to 0.95). The risk of recurrent ischemic stroke was lower in the ESC guideline-matched group than in the non-matched group (0.9% vs. 2.7%; OR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.11 to 0.88). There was no significant difference in the other secondary outcomes between the two groups. @*Conclusions@#ESC guideline-matched oral anticoagulant therapy was associated with reduced risks of any stroke and ischemic stroke as compared with the non-matched therapy.

Cancer-Related Stroke: An Emerging Subtype of Ischemic Stroke with Unique Pathomechanisms / 대한뇌졸중학회지

Systemic cancer and ischemic stroke are common conditions and two of the most frequent causes of death among the elderly. The association between cancer and stroke has been reported worldwide. Stroke causes severe disability for cancer patients, while cancer increases the risk of stroke. Moreover, cancer-related stroke is expected to increase due to advances in cancer treatment and an aging population worldwide. Because cancer and stroke share risk factors (such as smoking and obesity) and treatment of cancer can increase the risk of stroke (e.g., accelerated atherosclerosis after radiation therapy), cancer may accelerate conventional stroke mechanisms (i.e., atherosclerosis, small vessel disease, and cardiac thrombus). In addition, active cancer and chemotherapy may enhance thrombin generation causing stroke related to coagulopathy. Patients with stroke due to cancer-related coagulopathy showed the characteristics findings of etiologic work ups, D-dimer levels, and infarct patterns. In this review, we summarized the frequency of cancer-related stroke among patients with ischemic stroke, mechanisms of stroke with in cancer patients, and evaluation and treatment of cancer-related stroke. We discussed the possibility of cancer-related stroke as a stroke subtype, and presented the most recent discoveries in the pathomechanisms and treatment of stroke due to cancer-related coagulopathy.

Selection of Candidates for Endovascular Treatment: Characteristics According to Three Different Selection Methods / 대한뇌졸중학회지

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: To investigate the number and characteristics of patients eligible for endovascular treatment (EVT) determined using three different selection methods: clinical-core mismatch, target mismatch, and collateral status. METHODS: Using the data of consecutive patients from two prospectively maintained registries of university medical centers, the number and characteristics of patients according to the three selection methods were investigated and their correlation was analyzed. Patients with anterior circulation stroke due to occlusion of the middle cerebral and/or internal carotid artery and a National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score of ≥6 points, who arrived within 8 hours or between 6 and 12 hours of symptom onset and underwent magnetic resonance imaging prior to EVT, were included. Collateral status was assessed using magnetic resonance perfusion-derived collateral flow maps. RESULTS: Three hundred thirty-five patients were investigated; the proportions of patients who were eligible and ineligible for EVT in all three selection methods were both small (n=85, 25.4%; n=54, 16.1%, respectively). The intercorrelation among the three selection methods was low (κ=0.235). The baseline NIHSS score and onset-to-selection time interval were associated with the presence of clinical-core mismatch, while the penumbra/core volume ratio and onset-to-selection time interval were related to target mismatch; none of these variables were associated with collateral status. The infarct core volume was associated with favorable profiles in all three selection methods. CONCLUSIONS: Although the application of individual selection methods resulted in favorable outcomes after EVT in clinical trials, there is a significant discrepancy in EVT eligibility depending on the selection method used.

Long-Term Outcomes of Real-World Korean Patients with Atrial-Fibrillation-Related Stroke and Severely Decreased Ejection Fraction

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The clinical implications of echocardiography findings for long-term outcomes in atrial fibrillation (AF)-related stroke patients are unknown. METHODS: This was a substudy of the Korean ATrial fibrillaTion EvaluatioN regisTry in Ischemic strOke patieNts (K-ATTENTION), which is a multicenter-based cohort comprising prospective stroke registries from 11 tertiary centers. Stroke survivors who underwent two-dimensional transthoracic echocardiography during hospitalization were enrolled. Echocardiography markers included the left-ventricle (LV) ejection fraction (LVEF), the left atrium diameter, and the ratio of the peak transmitral filling velocity to the mean mitral annular velocity during early diastole (E/e′ ratio). LVEF was categorized into normal (≥55%), mildly decreased (>40% and <55%), and severely decreased (≤40%). The E/e′ ratio associated with the LV filling pressure was categorized into normal (<8), borderline (≥8 and <15), and elevated (≥15). Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses were performed for recurrent stroke, major adverse cardiac events, and all-cause death. RESULTS: This study finally included 1,947 patients. Over a median follow-up of 1.65 years (interquartile range, 0.42–2.87 years), the rates of recurrent stroke, major adverse cardiac events, and all-cause death were 35.1, 10.8, and 69.6 cases per 1,000 person-years, respectively. Multivariable analyses demonstrated that severely decreased LVEF was associated with a higher risks of major adverse cardiac events [hazard ratio (HR), 3.91; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.58–9.69] and all-cause death (HR, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.23–3.10). The multivariable fractional polynomial plot indicated that recurrent stroke might be associated with a lower LVEF. CONCLUSIONS: Severe LV systolic dysfunction could be a determinant of long-term outcomes in AF-related stroke.

Hypercoagulability and Mortality of Patients with Stroke and Active Cancer: The OASIS-CANCER Study / 대한뇌졸중학회지

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Patients with active cancer are at an increased risk for stroke. Hypercoagulability plays an important role in cancer-related stroke. We aimed to test whether 1) hypercoagulability is a predictor of survival, and 2) correction of the hypercoagulable state leads to better survival in patients with stroke and active cancer. METHODS: We recruited consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke and active systemic cancer between January 2006 and July 2015. Hypercoagulability was assessed using plasma D-dimer levels before and after 7 days of anticoagulation treatment. The study outcomes included overall and 1-year survival. Plasma D-dimer levels before and after treatment were tested in univariate and multivariate Cox regression models. We controlled for systemic metastasis, stroke mechanism, age, stroke severity, primary cancer type, histology, and atrial fibrillation using the forward stepwise method. RESULTS: A total of 268 patients were included in the analysis. Patients with high (3rd–4th quartiles) pre-treatment plasma D-dimer levels showed decreased overall and 1-year survival (adjusted HR, 2.19 [95% CI, 1.46–3.31] and 2.70 [1.68–4.35], respectively). After anticoagulation treatment, post-treatment D-dimer level was significantly reduced and independently associated with poor 1-year survival (adjusted HR, 1.03 [95% CI, 1.01–1.05] per 1 μg/mL increase, P=0.015). The successful correction of hypercoagulability was a protective factor for 1-year survival (adjusted HR 0.26 [CI 0.10–0.68], P=0.006). CONCLUSIONS: Hypercoagulability is associated with poor survival after stroke in patients with active cancer. Effective correction of hypercoagulability may play a protective role for survival in these patients.

Impact of Slow Blood Filling via Collaterals on Infarct Growth: Comparison of Mismatch and Collateral Status / 대한뇌졸중학회지

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Perfusion-diffusion mismatch has been evaluated to determine whether the presence of a target mismatch helps to identify patients who respond favorably to recanalization therapies. We compared the impact on infarct growth of collateral status and the presence of a penumbra, using magnetic resonance perfusion (MRP) techniques. METHODS: Consecutive patients who were candidates for recanalization therapy and underwent serial diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) and MRP were enrolled. A collateral flow map derived from MRP source data was generated by automatic post-processing. The impact of a target mismatch (Tmax>6 s/apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) volume≥1.8, ADC volume10 s for ADC volume<100 mL) on infarct growth was compared with MR-based collateral grading on day 7 DWI, using multivariate linear regression analysis. RESULTS: Among 73 patients, 55 (75%) showed a target mismatch, whereas collaterals were poor in 14 (19.2%), intermediate in 36 (49.3%), and good in 23 (31.5%) patients. After adjusting for initial severity of stroke, early recanalization (P<0.001) and the MR-based collateral grading (P=0.001), but not the presence of a target mismatch, were independently associated with infarct growth. Even in patients with a target mismatch and successful recanalization, the degree of infarct growth depended on the collateral status. Perfusion status at later Tmax time points (beyond the arterial phase) was more closely correlated with collateral status. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with good collaterals show a favorable outcome in terms of infarct growth, regardless of the presence of a target mismatch pattern. The presence of slow blood filling predicts collateral status and infarct growth.

Association of Left Atrial Enlargement with Cortical Infarction in Subjects with Patent Foramen Ovale / 대한뇌졸중학회지

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Left atrial dysfunction has been reported in patients with patent foramen ovale (PFO). Here we investigated the role of left atrial dysfunction in the development of embolic stroke in patients with PFO. METHODS: We identified consecutive patients with embolic stroke of undetermined sources except for PFO (PFO+ESUS). Healthy subjects with PFO served as controls (PFO+control). A stratified analysis by 10-year age group and an age- and sex- matching analysis were performed to compare echocardiographic markers between groups. In the PFO+ESUS group, infarct patterns of PFO-related stroke were determined (cortical vs. cortico-subcortical) and analyzed in correlation with left atrial function parameters. RESULTS: A total of 118 patients and 231 controls were included. The left atrial volume indices (LAVIs) of the PFO+ESUS patients were higher than those of the PFO+controls in age groups of 40–49, 50–59, and 60–69 years (P28 mL/m2) LAVI was more associated with the cortical infarct pattern (P=0.043 for an acute infarction and P=0.024 for a chronic infarction, both adjusted for age and shunt amount). The degree of right-to-left shunting was not associated with infarct patterns, but with the posterior location of acute infarcts (P=0.028). CONCLUSIONS: Left atrial enlargement was associated with embolic stroke in subjects with PFO. Left atrial physiology might contribute to the development of PFO-related stroke and need to be taken into consideration for optimal prevention of PFO-related stroke.

Isolated Posteroinferior Cerebellar Artery Dissection Diagnosed by High-Resolution Vessel Wall MRI

Arterial dissection is an important cause of stroke. We report two cases of isolated posterior inferior cerebellar artery (PICA) dissection diagnosed by high-resolution vessel-wall MRI (HRVW-MRI). One subject complained of abrupt-onset vertigo and headache, and the other subject had headache, vertigo, and Horner syndrome. Conventional MRA showed only focal dilatation of the PICA, but HRVW-MRI revealed intramural hematoma and double-lumen contour in the PICA, suggesting arterial dissection. We suggest that the use of HRVW-MRI should be considered when diagnosing isolated PICA dissection in a PICA infarct with an unknown cause.

Ischemic Stroke in Takayasu's Arteritis: Lesion Patterns and Possible Mechanisms

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The purpose of the present study was to use brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) to identify the mechanism of stroke in patients with Takayasu's arteritis (TA). METHODS: Among a retrospective cohort of 190 TA patients, 21 (3 males and 18 females) with a mean age of 39.9 years (range 15-68 years) who had acute cerebral infarctions were included in lesion pattern analyses. The patients' characteristics were reviewed, and infarction patterns and the degree of cerebral artery stenosis were evaluated. Ischemic lesions were categorized into five subgroups: cortical border-zone, internal border-zone, large lobar, large deep, and small subcortical infarctions. RESULTS: In total, 21 ischemic stroke events with relevant ischemic lesions on MRI were observed. The frequencies of the lesion types were as follows: large lobar (n=7, 33.3%), cortical border zone (n=6, 28.6%), internal border zone (n=1, 4.8%), small cortical (n=0, 0%), and large deep (n=7, 33.3%). MRA revealed that 11 patients had intracranial artery stenosis. CONCLUSIONS: Hemodynamic compromise in large-artery stenosis and thromboembolic mechanisms play significant roles in ischemic stroke associated with TA.

Comparative Results of Combined Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting and Carotid Endarterectomy versus Staged Operation

PURPOSE: Between combined and staged operations of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for patients with concurrent coronary and carotid disease, each treatment strategy has its own advantages and disadvantages. We attempted to compare early surgical results between the two operations. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of 71 patients who underwent either combined CEA & CABG (n=37) or staged CABG & CEA (n=34) in a single institute between January 2001 and March 2010. After comparing patients' demographics and preoperative neurologic and cardiac status, we compared early (<1 month) postoperative cardiac or neurologic complications and surgical mortality between the 2 groups. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in patients' demographics and indications for operation the between 2 groups. There were 2 (5.4%) cases of postoperative stroke in combined groups and 1 (2.9%) in staged group. However, there was no myocardial infarction or death. In staged operation group, during the interval time between the two operations, 5 cases (14.7%) of stroke developed, of which, all patients recovered without any sequelae by anticoagulation. CONCLUSION: After experiencing low postoperative cardiac or neurologic morbidity or mortality after combined CABG and CEA, we conclude that combined CABG and CEA was a safe and feasible treatment option for patients with neurologic symptoms and in stable cardiac status. In the staged operation group of patients, we observed development of neurologic events during the interval period between CABG and CEA. To attain optimal treatment strategy in asymptomatic patients, further prospective study would be required.

Ischemic Stroke and Cancer: Stroke Severely Impacts Cancer Patients, While Cancer Increases the Number of Strokes

BACKGROUND: Cancer and ischemic stroke are two of the most common causes of death among the elderly, and associations between them have been reported. However, the main pathomechanisms of stroke in cancer patients are not well known, and can only be established based on accurate knowledge of the characteristics of cancer-related strokes. We review herein recent studies concerning the clinical, laboratory, and radiological features of patients with cancer-related stroke. MAIN CONTENTS: This review covers the epidemiology, underlying mechanisms, and acute and preventive treatments for cancer-related stroke. First, the characteristics of stroke (clinical and radiological features) and systemic cancer (type and extent) in patients with cancer-specific stroke are discussed. Second, the role of laboratory tests in the early identification of patients with cancer-specific stroke is discussed. Specifically, serum D-dimer levels (as a marker of a hypercoagulable state) and embolic signals on transcranial Doppler (suggestive of embolic origin) may provide clues regarding changes in the levels of coagulopathy related to cancer and anticoagulation. Finally, strategies for stroke treatment in cancer patients are discussed, emphasizing the importance of preventive strategies (i.e., the use of anticoagulants) over acute revascularization therapy in cancer-related stroke. CONCLUSION: Recent studies have revealed that the characteristics of cancer-related stroke are distinct from those of conventional stroke. Our understanding of the characteristics of cancer-related stroke is essential to the correct management of these patients. The studies presented in this review highlight the importance of a personalized approach in treating stroke patients with cancer.

Comparison of Outcomes between Primary Closure vs. Patch Angioplasty in Carotid Endarterectomy

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare the short and long-term outcomes following carotid endarterectomy (CEA) with either primary closure (PC) or patch angioplasty (PAT) performed by single center vascular surgeons. METHODS: Between November 1994 and March 2008, a total of 366 patients underwent 401 consecutive primary CEA procedures at our institution. We retrospectively reviewed patients' medical records. Two vascular surgeons prefer routine PC and one vascular surgeon prefer routine patch closure using bovine pericardial patch. Postoperative neurologic complications were determined by clinical neurologists. Restenosis was defined as >50% stenosis on follow-up duplex scan. Data was analyzed to compare the early (< or =30 days) and late results of CEA between PC group and PAT group. RESULTS: The mean follow-up duration was significantly longer in the PC group than that in the PAT group (61.7 months vs. 41.2 months, P<0.001). Coronary artery disease and combined CEA with coronary artery bypass were more common in the PAT group (39% vs. 55%, P<0.002; 4% vs. 12%, P<0.004). Perioperative ipsilateral TIA/stroke rates in the PC and PAT groups were 1.5% and 0.7% (PC=4/270 vs. PAT=1/131, P=0.564). Regarding late outcomes, Kaplan-Meier analysis failed to show any difference between 2 groups on freedom from ipsilateral transient ischemic attack (TIA)/stroke, freedom from restenosis and TIA/stroke-free survival (P=0.851, P=0.232, P=0.103, log-rank test). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that PC following CEA is not necessarily inferior to PAT for experienced surgeons.

Carotid Endarterectomy: Analysis of Early Complications (<30 days) and Risk Factors for Postoperative New Brain Infarction

PURPOSE: We aimed to evaluate the early (70%) carotid stenosis. We also found that plaque with ulceration was a significant risk factor for the development of postoperative NBI.

Diffusion-weighted MRI Lesion Patterns in Large Artery Atherosclerotic Disease with Microembolic Signals

BACKGROUND: Microembolic signals (MES) are associated with the pathogenic mechanism of ischemic stroke with large-artery atherosclerotic disease. We examined the relationship between MES on a transcranial Doppler ultrasonography (TCD) and lesion patterns on diffusion-weighted MR imaging (DWI) in acute ischemic strokes associated with atherosclerotic diseases of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) and internal carotid artery (ICA). METHODS: A total of 405 consecutive patients were monitored for MES within 48 hours of symptom onset. Patients with MES and DWI lesions in the territory of the MCA or ICA and corresponding MCA/ICA stenosis or occlusion on MR angiography (MRA) were included. MCA velocities and lesion patterns on DWI were compared. RESULTS: MES were detected in 25 patients (MCA: 13, ICA: 12). The mean number of MES during 30 minutes of monitoring was 14.2+/-17.3 (range: 1-64, MCA: 13.9+/-13.6, ICA: 14.5+/-21.6, p-value=0.098). The mean flow velocity in the ipsilateral MCA in patients with MCA disease was higher than in patients with ICA disease (129.9+/-74.4 cm/s vs 61.1+/-28.2 cm/s, p=0.006). The frequency of multiple lesions on DWI was higher inpatients with ICA disease than in those with MCA disease (46.1% vs 100%, p=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Multiple lesions on DWI were more frequent in ICA disease with MES than in MCA disease. Artery-to-artery embolism may be a more important stroke mechanism in acute ischemic stroke with ICA disease.

A Pathology-proven Case of Schilder's Disease

Schilder's disease or myelinoclastic diffuse sclerosis (MDS) is a rare variant of multiple sclerosis. We report a 66-year-old woman with progressive motor weakness and diffuse white matter degeneration on MRI, which satisfies the Poser's restrictive criteria of MDS. As previously reported cases of probable Schilder's disease did not meet the criteria correctly, we consider our patient is the first pathology-proven case of MDS in Korea.