Anti-Platelet Drug Resistance in the Prediction of Thromboembolic Complications after Neurointervention

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to analyze the correlation between thromboembolic complications and antiplatelet drugs before and after neurointervention. METHODS: Blood samples and radiographic data of patients who received a neurointervention (coil embolization, stent placement or both) were collected prospectively. Rapid platelet function assay-aspirin (RPFA-ASA) was used to calculate aspirin resistance in aspirin reaction units (ARU). For clopidogrel resistance, a P2Y12 assay was used to analyze the percentage of platelet inhibition. ARU > 550 and platelet inhibition < 40% were defined as aspirin and clopidogrel resistance, respectively. RESULTS: Both aspirin and clopidogrel oral pills were administered in fifty-three patients before and after neurointerventional procedures. The mean resistance values of all patients were 484 ARU and < 39%. Ten (17.0%) of 53 patients showed resistance to aspirin with an average of 597 ARU, and 33 (62.3%) of 53 patients showed resistance to clopidogrel with an average of < 26%. Ten patients demonstrated resistance to both drugs, 5 of which suffered a thromboembolic complication after neurointervention (mean values : 640 ARU and platelet inhibition < 23%). Diabetic patients and patients with hypercholesterolemia displayed mean aspirin resistances of 513.7 and 501.8 ARU, and mean clopidogrel resistances of < 33.8% and < 40.7%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Identifying individuals with poor platelet inhibition using standard regimens is of great clinical importance and may help prevent cerebral ischemic events in the future. Neurointerventional research should focus on ideal doses, timing, choices, safety, and reliable measurements of antiplatelet drug therapy, as well as confirming the clinical relevance of aggregometry in cerebrovascular patients.

Management of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms in Patients with Ischemic Cerebrovascular Disease / 대한뇌혈관외과학회지

OBJECTIVE: Unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIA) accompanied by ischemic cerebrovascular disease (CVD), will be an increasing problem for neurosurgeons in the future, as the population ages. These patients are a high-risk group of treatment. UIA associated with ischemic CVD in seventeen patients were analyzed and their managements are discussed. METHODS: In the past four years, one hundred seventy seven cases of UIAs were treated in our hospital. Among them, seventeen patients suffered from ischemic CVD before treatment of aneurysm. The age of patients varied from 40 to 78 (mean 63.2) years old. The associated ischemic CVD was that transient ischemic attack (TIA) was nine, minor completed stroke in eight patients. There was permanent neurological deficit in two patients. Microsurgical treatment underwent for ten patients and seven patients were treated with endovascular technique. RESULTS: Fourteen patients were fully recovered from surgical and endovascular management. In clipping group, hemiparesis event occurred in one patient after the surgery. The patient suffered from ischemia-related permanent neurological worsening. There were two patients who developed neurological deficit following endovascular treatment for UIA in seven patients of coiling group. One patient was recovered after rehabilitation but the other patient didn't improve left hemiparesis until discharge. This patient had bilateral paraclinoid aneurysms. We treated these lesions simultaneously and coil embolization for the aneurysm was uneventful. However, left side weakness developed after the procedure. Angiography revealed occlusion of cortical branches of middle cerebral artery and MRI scan showed hyperintense areas in the right motor cortex. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that surgical treatment of unruptured cerebral aneurysm is not contraindicated in patients with CVD. However, the treatment of UIA accompanied by CVD should be performed only after careful examination of the factors involved in the particular ischemic episodes. Careful case selection and perioperative management are mandatory for preventing surgical complications.

Delayed Complications after Uneventful Coil Embolization of Unruptured Aneurysms : Case Report / 대한뇌혈관외과학회지

Coiling of intracranial aneurysms is a generally safe treatment. However, despite increasing clinical experience and technological improvements, endovascular treatment still has inherent risks of morbidity and mortality. Recently, we have experienced two cases of delayed complications that developed after uneventful coil embolization of unruptured aneurysms.