Thirteen-and-a-Half syndrome stroke: A case report

@#We describe a 52-year old woman who developed one- and-a-half syndrome with an ipsilateral trigeminal and facial nerve palsy from a lacunar infarct of the left paramedian pontine area likely involving the median-paramedian perforators of the basilar artery.

Les différences liées au genre dans les accidents vasculaires cérébraux

L'impact dévastateur des accidents vasculaires cérébraux sur la qualité de vie des sujets a motivé à conduire cette étude. Le but est d'identifie lesdifférences entre les genres dans la perspective d'optimiser la prise en charge surtout sur facteurs se révélant péjoratives individuellement pour chaque groupe MéthodesIl s'agit d'une étude prospective analytique d'une durée de neuf (9) mois allant de juillet 2019 à mars 2020 aux urgences médicales de l'Hôpital National de Niamey. Etait éligible, tout patient consentant ayant développé un AVC avec une lésion objectivée au scanner cérébral.Résultats : L'étude avait inclus au total 100 sujets dont 59 ayant présenté un infarctus cérébral et les 41 autres un AVC hémorragique. Le sex-ratio était de 1. Au niveau de l'âge il n'y a pas eu de différence entre les genres (p=0,547). Les non-instruits ont été retrouvés plus chez les femmes (p=0,001). Des pressions artérielles systoliques (p=0,014) et diastoliques p=0,014) et diastoliques (p=0,02) au stade 3 de l'OMS ont concernées plus les hommes que les femmes. Les femmes ont été les plus intéressées par l'infarctus cérébral et inversement les hommes par l'AVC hémorragique (p=0,025). Le genre n'a pas eu de lien statistique avec le décès (p˃0,05).Conclusion : L'étude a seulement objectivé une rela-tion entre le genre, le niveau d'instruction, la pression artérielle et le type d'accident vasculaire

Alpha Stent for Coiling of Unruptured, Wide-Necked, Distal Internal Carotid Artery Aneurysms: Safety and Effectiveness at 6 Months

White-Matter Hyperintensities and Lacunar Infarcts Are Associated with an Increased Risk of Alzheimer's Disease in the Elderly in China

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This study investigated the contribution of white-matter hyperintensities (WMH) and lacunar infarcts (LI) to the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in an elderly cohort in China. METHODS: Older adults who were initially cognitively normal were examined with MRI at baseline, and followed for 5 years. WMH were classified as mild, moderate, or severe, and LI were classified into a few LI (1 to 3) or many LI (≥4). Cognitive function was assessed using the Mini Mental State Examination and the Activities of Daily Living scale. RESULTS: Among the 2,626 subjects, 357 developed AD by the end of the 5-year follow-up period. After adjusting for age and other potential confounders, having only WMH, having only LI, and having both WMH and LI were associated with an increased risk of developing AD compared with having neither WMH nor LI. Moderate and severe WMH were associated with an increased risk of developing AD compared with no WMH. Furthermore, patients with many LI had an increased risk of developing AD compared with no LI. CONCLUSIONS: Having moderate or severe WMH and many LI were associated with an increased risk of developing AD, with this being particularly striking when both WMH and LI were present.

Hemorrhagic Transformation in Thalamic Infarction

No abstract available.

Asymptomatic Cerebral Small Vessel Disease: Insights from Population-Based Studies / 대한뇌졸중학회지

Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is a common group of neurological conditions that confer a significant burden of morbidity and mortality worldwide. In most cases, CSVD is only recognized in its advanced stages once its symptomatic sequelae develop. However, its significance in asymptomatic healthy populations remains poorly defined. In population-based studies of presumed healthy elderly individuals, CSVD neuroimaging markers including white matter hyperintensities, lacunes, cerebral microbleeds, enlarged perivascular spaces, cortical superficial siderosis, and cerebral microinfarcts are frequently detected. While the presence of these imaging markers may reflect unique mechanisms at play, there are likely shared pathways underlying CSVD. Herein, we aim to assess the etiology and significance of these individual biomarkers by focusing in asymptomatic populations at an epidemiological level. By primarily examining population-based studies, we explore the risk factors that are involved in the formation and progression of these biomarkers. Through a critical semi-systematic review, we aim to characterize “asymptomatic” CSVD, review screening modalities, and draw associations from observational studies in clinical populations. Lastly, we highlight areas of research (including therapeutic approaches) in which further investigation is needed to better understand asymptomatic CSVD.

A Comparison Study of Cilostazol and Aspirin on Changes in Volume of Cerebral Small Vessel Disease White Matter Changes: Protocol of a Multicenter, Randomized Controlled Trial

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is the most common cause of vascular dementia and a major contributor to mixed dementia. CSVD is characterized by progressive cerebral white matter changes (WMC) due to chronic low perfusion and loss of autoregulation. In addition to its antiplatelet effect, cilostazol exerts a vasodilating effect and improves endothelial function. This study aims to compare the effects of cilostazol and aspirin on changes in WMC volume in CSVD.METHODS: The comparison study of Cilostazol and aspirin on cHAnges in volume of cerebral smaLL vEssel disease white matter chaNGEs (CHALLENGE) is a double blind, randomized trial involving 19 hospitals across South Korea. Patients with moderate or severe WMC and ≥ 1 lacunar infarction detected on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are eligible; the projected sample size is 254. Participants are randomly assigned to a cilostazol or aspirin group at a 1:1 ratio. Cilostazol slow release 200 mg or aspirin 100 mg are taken once daily for 2 years. The primary outcome measure is the change in WMC volume on MRI from baseline to 104 weeks. Secondary imaging outcomes include changes in the number of lacunes and cerebral microbleeds, fractional anisotropy and mean diffusivity on diffusion tensor imaging, and brain atrophy. Secondary clinical outcomes include all ischemic strokes, all vascular events, and changes in cognition, motor function, mood, urinary symptoms, and disability.CONCLUSIONS: CHALLENGE will provide evidence to support the selection of long-term antiplatelet therapy in CSVD.TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01932203

White matter integrity in patients with mild cognitive impairment complicated with lacunar infarctions by diffusion tensor imaging / 中南大学学报(医学版)

To evaluate the white-matter integrity and its correlation with cognitive function in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) complicated with lacunar infarctions (LI) by diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) of magnetic resonance (MR).
 Methods: Twenty-six patients with MCI were selected including 14 patients with combined LI and 12 patients without combined LI, and 16 healthy volunteers were recruited as normal control. All subjects completed cognitive function assessment and DTI sequence of MR. Factional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) values among the MCI with LI group (MCI-LI), the MCI without LI group (MCI-non LI), and the normal control group (NC) were compared, and the correlation between DTI parameters and cognition was determined by multiple linear stepwise regression.
 Results: Compared with the MCI-non LI group, the FA values were significantly decreased (P<0.05) and MD values were significantly increased (P<0.05) in the white matter fiber bundles (such as the left hippocampus of the cingulate tract, the frontal fascicle of the corpus callosum, the right inferior frontal occipital fascicle, and the right superior longitudinal fascicle) in the MCI-LI group. In the MCI-LI group, the FA value of right cingulate gyrus was significantly correlated with Activity of Daily Living Scale (ADL) score (B=-50.2, 95% CI -77.7 to -22.7, P=0.003); the FA value of left anterior thalamic radiation (B=443.8, 95% CI 222.9 to 664.8, P=0.001) and MD value of left inferior longitudinal tract (B=-318.5, 95% CI -534.7 to -102.3, P=0.009) were significantly correlated with Wechsler digit symbol substitution (WDSS) score; the FA value of left superior temporal lobe longitudinal tract was significantly correlated with Backward Digit Span (BDSP) score (B=12.5, 95% CI 1.5 to 23.4, P=0.030).
 Conclusion: The integrity of white matter is significantly destroyed in MCI patients with LI than that in MCI patients without LI, and there is a correlation between cognitive function and DTI parameters in some white matter tracts in MCI patients with LI.

Perfil clínico diferencial entre los infartos lacunares y los infartos cerebrales aterotrombóticos / Differential clinical profile of lacunar infarcts compared to atherothrombotic brain infarcts

Aims and objectives: The present study makes a comparative analysis between the clinical profile of lacunar infarcts (LI) and that of atherothrombotic brain infarcts (ABI). Methods: Hospital-based descriptive study of 1809 consecutive patients admitted over a period of 24 years with a diagnosis of lacunar cerebral infarction (n = 864) or atherothrombotic cerebral infarction (n = 945). A comparative analysis of the demographic data, cerebral vascular risk factors, clinical data and hospital evolution between both subtypes of cerebral infarction was performed using a univariate and multivariate statistical methodology. Results: LI accounted for 26.5% and ABI for 28.9% of all cerebral infarctions in the registry. The variables directly and independently associated with ABI were: ischemic heart disease, previous transient ischemic attack, previous cerebral infarction, peripheral vascular disease, anticoagulant therapy, age > 85 years, vegetative symptoms, decreased level of consciousness, sensory deficit, visual deficit, speech disorders, and neurological, respiratory and urinary complications during hospital admission. In contrast, the absence of neurological symptoms at hospital discharge was directly associated with LI. Conclusions: LI and ABI have a distinct clinical profile. The best functional prognosis of LI during the acute phase of the disease is characteristic. In contrast, ICAs have a higher atherosclerotic burden and a worse prognosis.

Fundamentos y objetivo: El objetivo del estudio es efectuar un análisis comparativo entre el perfil clínico de los infartos lacunares (IL) y el perfil de los infartos cerebrales aterotrombóticos (ICA). Métodos: Estudio hospitalario descriptivo de 1809 pacientes consecutivos ingresados durante un período de 24 años con el diagnóstico de infarto cerebral de tipo lacunar (n = 864) o por infarto cerebral aterotrombótico (ICA) (n = 945). Se realizó un análisis comparativo de los datos demográficos, factores de riesgo vascular cerebral, datos clínicos y de evolución hospitalaria utilizando una metodología estadística univariada y, posteriormente, multivariada. Resultados: Los IL representaron el 26.5% y los ICA el 28.9% del total de infartos cerebrales del registro. Las variables asociadas directamente y de forma independiente con los ICA fueron: cardiopatía isquémica, ataque isquémico transitorio previo, infarto cerebral previo, enfermedad vascular periférica, uso de anticoagulantes, edad > 85 años, síntomas vegetativos, disminución del nivel de conciencia, déficit sensitivo, déficit visual, trastornos del habla y complicaciones neurológicas, respiratorias y urinarias durante el ingreso hospitalario. En cambio, la ausencia de sintomatología neurológica al alta se asoció directamente con los IL. Conclusiones: Los IL y los ICA tienen un perfil clínico diferenciado. Es característico el mejor pronóstico funcional de los IL durante la fase aguda de la enfermedad. En cambio, los ICA presentan mayor carga aterosclerótica y peor pronóstico evolutivo.

Updates on Prevention of Hemorrhagic and Lacunar Strokes / 대한뇌졸중학회지

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and lacunar infarction (LI) are the major acute clinical manifestations of cerebral small vessel diseases (cSVDs). Hypertensive small vessel disease, cerebral amyloid angiopathy, and hereditary causes, such as Cerebral Autosomal Dominant Arteriopathy with Subcortical Infarcts and Leukoencephalopathy (CADASIL), constitute the three common cSVD categories. Diagnosing the underlying vascular pathology in these patients is important because the risk and types of recurrent strokes show significant differences. Recent advances in our understanding of the cSVD-related radiological markers have improved our ability to stratify ICH risk in individual patients, which helps guide antithrombotic decisions. There are general good-practice measures for stroke prevention in patients with cSVD, such as optimal blood pressure and glycemic control, while individualized measures tailored for particular patients are often needed. Antithrombotic combinations and anticoagulants should be avoided in cSVD treatment, as they increase the risk of potentially fatal ICH without necessarily lowering LI risk in these patients. Even when indicated for a concurrent pathology, such as nonvalvular atrial fibrillation, nonpharmacological approaches should be considered in the presence of cSVD. More data are emerging regarding the presentation, clinical course, and diagnostic markers of hereditary cSVD, allowing accurate diagnosis, and therefore, guiding management of symptomatic patients. When suspicion for asymptomatic hereditary cSVD exists, the pros and cons of prescribing genetic testing should be discussed in detail in the absence of any curative treatment. Recent data regarding diagnosis, risk stratification, and specific preventive approaches for both sporadic and hereditary cSVDs are discussed in this review article.

Hypertensive Encephalopathy with Multiple Lacunar Infarcts and Microbleeds

No abstract available.

Cerebral Small Vessel Disease: A Review Focusing on Pathophysiology, Biomarkers, and Machine Learning Strategies / 대한뇌졸중학회지

Cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD) has a crucial role in lacunar stroke and brain hemorrhages and is a leading cause of cognitive decline and functional loss in elderly patients. Based on underlying pathophysiology, cSVD can be subdivided into amyloidal and non-amyloidal subtypes. Genetic factors of cSVD play a pivotal role in terms of unraveling molecular mechanism. An important pathophysiological mechanism of cSVD is blood-brain barrier leakage and endothelium dysfunction which gives a clue in identification of the disease through circulating biological markers. Detection of cSVD is routinely carried out by key neuroimaging markers including white matter hyperintensities, lacunes, small subcortical infarcts, perivascular spaces, cerebral microbleeds, and brain atrophy. Application of neural networking, machine learning and deep learning in image processing have increased significantly for correct severity of cSVD. A linkage between cSVD and other neurological disorder, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease and non-cerebral disease, has also been investigated recently. This review draws a broad picture of cSVD, aiming to inculcate new insights into its pathogenesis and biomarkers. It also focuses on the role of deep machine strategies and other dimensions of cSVD by linking it with several cerebral and non-cerebral diseases as well as recent advances in the field to achieve sensitive detection, effective prevention and disease management.

Síndrome de Percheron / Percheron syndrome

El infarto talámicoparamediano bilateral sincrónico,llamado habitualmente infarto de la arteria de Percheron, se considera infrecuente y de difícil diagnóstico clínico. Se presenta a una paciente de 50 años, con infarto talámico bilateral, que presentó un cuadro de desorientación, visión borrosa y doble en horas de la mañana, sin referir pérdida de conciencia. En la tomografía axial computarizada de cráneo simple se evidenció una hipodensidad talámica bilateral, compatible con un infarto agudo a este nivel, por oclusión de la arteria de Percheron. Es importante el reconocimiento de esta variante anatómica para establecer el mecanismo del infarto talámico bilateral.

Retinal microvascular abnormalities in different stroke subtypes: A cross-sectional study / The Health Sciences Journal

Introduction@#This study aimed to describe retinal microvascular changes in patients diagnosed to have stroke and determine the association between retinal microvascular changes and type of stroke (lacunar and non-lacunar).@*Methods@#This is a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted among stroke patients seen at the Neurology Ward and Neurology Out-Patient Clinic of the UERM Memorial Medical Center. The patients' demographic characteristics and risk factors were obtained through a standardized questionnaire. Retinal photographs of both eyes were taken in eligible patients who consented to join the study. Retinal vascular changes were identified and their association with the type of stroke was determined.@*Results @#Thirty-seven patients, 64% of whom had small artery occlusion type of lacunar stroke, were enrolled in the study. The most prevalent retinal abnormalities for each type of stroke were AV nicking and focal arteriolar narrowing. The prevalence of abnormal retinal findings between patients with lacunar stroke and non-lacunar stroke were compared and showed insufficient evidence to demonstrate a statistical significance between abnormal retinal findings and lacunar stroke.@*Conclusion @#There is no significant association between abnormal retinal findings and lacunar stroke.

Pontine Infarct Presenting as Peripheral Type Unilateral Facial Palsy

Acute peripheral facial palsy usually manifests Bell's palsy of unknown cause, and rarely lacunar infarct which located in facial nucleus can mimic peripheral facial palsy. A 73 year-old man with isolated facial asymmetry diagnosed with lacunar infarction which selectively involve the facial fascicles which lie in inferolateral aspect of pons. Clinicians should take into account the possibility of central lesion and brain stem infarction, even when patients present with isolated peripheral type facial palsy.

Small Vessel Transient Ischemic Attack and Lacunar Infarction Detected with Perfusion-Weighted MRI / 대한뇌졸중학회지

No abstract available.

Hypertensive Brainstem Encephalopathy in a Patient with Acute Lacunar Infarction

No abstract available.

Blood Pressure Management for Stroke Prevention and in Acute Stroke / 대한뇌졸중학회지

Elevated blood pressure (BP) is the leading modifiable risk factor for stroke and the benefit of BP lowering therapy on the stroke risk reduction is well established. The optimal BP target for preventing stroke and other vascular events have been controversial, but the evidences from epidemiological studies and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) support intensive BP lowering for greater vascular protection, particularly for stroke prevention. For secondary stroke prevention, the evidence of intensive BP lowering benefit is limited since only a single RCT for patients with lacunar infarctions was conducted and most data were driven by exploratory analyses. In acute intracerebral hemorrhage, immediate BP lowering targeting systolic BP<140 mm Hg is recommended by guidelines based on the results from RCTs. In contrast, in acute ischemic stroke, early BP lowering is not usually recommended because of no benefit on functional outcome and future vascular events and potential harm of stroke progression. This review aims to summarize the updated evidence for optimal BP management for primary and secondary stroke prevention and in patients with acute stroke.

Total Cerebral Small-Vessel Disease Score is Associated with Mortality during Follow-Up after Acute Ischemic Stroke

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The recently developed total cerebral small-vessel disease (CSVD) score might appropriately reflect the total burden or severity of CSVD. We investigated whether the total CSVD score is associated with long-term outcomes during follow-up in patients with acute ischemic stroke. METHODS: In total, 1,096 consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke who underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging were enrolled. We calculated the total CSVD score for each patient after determining the burden of cerebral microbleeds (CMBs), high-grade white-matter hyperintensities (HWHs), high-grade perivascular spaces (HPVSs), and asymptomatic lacunar infarctions (ALIs). We recorded the date and cause of death for all of the patients using data from the Korean National Statistical Office. We compared the long-term mortality rate with the total CSVD score using Cox proportional-hazards models. RESULTS: CMBs were found in 26.8% of the subjects (294/1,096), HWHs in 16.4% (180/1,096), HPVSs in 19.3% (211/1,096), and ALIs in 38.0% (416/1,096). After adjusting for age, sex, and variables that were significant at p<0.1 in the univariate analysis, the total CSVD score was independently associated with long-term death from all causes [hazard ratio (HR)=1.18 per point, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.07–1.30], ischemic stroke (HR=1.20 per point, 95% CI=1.01–1.42), and hemorrhagic stroke (HR=2.05 per point, 95% CI=1.30–3.22), but not with fatal cardiovascular events (HR=1.17 per point, 95% CI=0.82–1.67). CONCLUSIONS: The total CSVD score is a potential imaging biomarker for predicting mortality during follow-up in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Non-Bacterial Thrombotic Endocarditis in a Patient with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is frequently associated with various extra-joint complications. Although rare, thromboembolic complications are associated with high morbidity and mortality. We experienced a very rare case of nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis (NBTE) and subsequent embolic stroke in a patient with RA. A 72-year-old male with a 15-year history of RA suddenly developed neurologic symptoms of vomiting and dizziness. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed recently developed multiple cerebellar and cerebral lacunar infarctions. Echocardiography showed a pulsating mitral valve vegetation involving the posterior cusp of the mitral valve leaflet, which was confirmed as NBTE. Immediate anti-coagulation therapy was started. The NBTE lesion disappeared in follow-up echocardiography after 4 weeks of anti-coagulation treatment.