Infartos cerebrales recurrentes: estudio de 605 pacientes / Recurrent ischemic stroke. Study of 605 patients

Fundamento y objetivo: Analizar las características demográficas, pronósticas y el perfil clínico relacionados con los infartos cerebrales recurrentes (ICR).Pacientes y método: Estudio hospitalario descriptivo de 605 pacientes consecutivos ingresados durante un período de 17 años por presentar ICR. Se efectúa una comparación con 2.099 pacientes con un primer infarto cerebral.Resultados: Los ICR representan el 22,4% del total de infartos cerebrales. Se observaron ICR en el 26,2% de los infartos trombóticos, en el 24,4% de los cardioembólicos, en el 21,8% de los lacunares, en el 15,8% de los infartos inhabituales y en el 12% de los infartos esenciales. Los ICR tienen un peor pronóstico que los infartos no recurrentes, presentando una mayor mortalidad hospitalaria (16,2 frente al 12%; p=0,005) y una menor frecuencia de ausencia de limitación al alta hospitalaria (17,8 frente al 27,3%; p=0,0001). El perfil clínico significativamente asociado con los ICR fue: presencia de hemorragia cerebral previa (odds ratio [OR] 3,07; intervalo de confianza del 95% [IC 95%] 1,51-6,25), claudicación intermitente (OR 1,39; IC 95% 1,01-1,90), hipertensión arterial (OR 1,32; IC 95% 1,09-1,59), diabetes mellitus (OR 1,26; IC 95% 1,02-1,56), edad (OR 1,02; IC 95% 1,01-1,03), sexo femenino (OR 0,63; IC 95% 0,52-0,77), cefalea (OR 0,62; IC 95% 0,44-0,87) y la topografía bulbar (OR 0,21; IC 95% 0,05-0,89). Conclusiones: Los ICR constituyen aproximadamente una cuarta parte de los infartos cerebrales, siendo más frecuentes en los infartos trombóticos y en los cardioembólicos. Tienen un peor pronóstico, con una mayor mortalidad hospitalaria y una menor frecuencia de ausencia de limitación al alta. Presentan un perfil clínico diferenciado de los primeros infartos cerebrales (AU)

Background and objectives: To characterize the clinical factors and prognosis and identify determinants of ischemic stroke recurrence in acute stroke. Patients and methods: Recurrent stroke patterns were studied in 605 consecutive patients admitted with a second or further ischemic stroke to the Department of Neurology of the Sagrat Cor Hospital of Barcelona over a 17 year period. Demographic, risk factors, clinical, neuroimaging and outcome variables were analyzed and compared with patients with first-ever cerebral infarction (n=2.099) to identify predictors of ischemic recurrent stroke. Significant variables were entered into a multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results:Ischemic recurrent strokes accounted for 22.4% of all acute consecutive ischemic strokes. Frequency of ischemic stroke recurrence were significantly different among ischemic stroke subtypes: 26.2% in atherothrombotic, 24.4% in cardioembolic, 21.8% in lacunar stroke, 15.8% in infarcts of unusual etiology and 12% infarctions of uncertain etiology. The overall in-hospital mortality and symptom free at discharge in recurrent vs. non-recurrent stroke patients rate was 16.2 vs. 12% (p=0.005) and 17.8 vs. 27.3% (p=0.0001) respectively. Previous intracerebral hemorrhage (OR=3.07; 95% CI, 1.51-6.25), intermittent claudication (OR=1.39; 95% CI, 1.01-1.90), arterial hypertension (OR=1.32; 95% CI, 1.09-1.59), diabetes mellitus (OR=1.26; 95% CI, 1.02-1.56), age (OR=1.02; 95% CI, 1.01-1.03), female gender (OR=0.63; 95% CI, 0.52-0.77), headache (OR=0.62; 95% CI, 0.44-0.87) and bulbar topography (OR=0.21; 95% CI, 0.05-0.89) were independent clinical variables related to ischemic stroke recurrence. Conclusions: About one in every four patients with ischemic stroke had an ischemic stroke recurrence. In-hospital mortality is 16.2% and clinical profiles were different in ischemic stroke recurrence when compared to first-ever ischemic stroke patients (AU)

[Recurrent ischemic stroke. Study of 605 patients]. / Infartos cerebrales recurrentes: estudio de 605 pacientes.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To characterize the clinical factors and prognosis and identify determinants of ischemic stroke recurrence in acute stroke. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Recurrent stroke patterns were studied in 605 consecutive patients admitted with a second or further ischemic stroke to the Department of Neurology of the Sagrat Cor Hospital of Barcelona over a 17 year period. Demographic, risk factors, clinical, neuroimaging and outcome variables were analyzed and compared with patients with first-ever cerebral infarction (n=2.099) to identify predictors of ischemic recurrent stroke. Significant variables were entered into a multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Ischemic recurrent strokes accounted for 22.4% of all acute consecutive ischemic strokes. Frequency of ischemic stroke recurrence were significantly different among ischemic stroke subtypes: 26.2% in atherothrombotic, 24.4% in cardioembolic, 21.8% in lacunar stroke, 15.8% in infarcts of unusual etiology and 12% infarctions of uncertain etiology. The overall in-hospital mortality and symptom free at discharge in recurrent vs. non-recurrent stroke patients rate was 16.2 vs. 12% (p=0.005) and 17.8 vs. 27.3% (p=0.0001) respectively. Previous intracerebral hemorrhage (OR=3.07; 95% CI, 1.51-6.25), intermittent claudication (OR=1.39; 95% CI, 1.01-1.90), arterial hypertension (OR=1.32; 95% CI, 1.09-1.59), diabetes mellitus (OR=1.26; 95% CI, 1.02-1.56), age (OR=1.02; 95% CI, 1.01-1.03), female gender (OR=0.63; 95% CI, 0.52-0.77), headache (OR=0.62; 95% CI, 0.44-0.87) and bulbar topography (OR=0.21; 95% CI, 0.05-0.89) were independent clinical variables related to ischemic stroke recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: About one in every four patients with ischemic stroke had an ischemic stroke recurrence. In-hospital mortality is 16.2% and clinical profiles were different in ischemic stroke recurrence when compared to first-ever ischemic stroke patients.

Pretreatment with statins improves early outcome in patients with first-ever ischaemic stroke: a pleiotropic effect of statins or a beneficial effect of hypercholesterolemia?

BACKGROUND: Data from different studies suggest a favourable association between pretreatment with statins or hypercholesterolemia and outcome after ischaemic stroke. We examined whether there were differences in in-hospital mortality according to the presence or absence of statin therapy in a large population of first-ever ischaemic stroke patients and assessed the influence of statins upon early death and spontaneous neurological recovery. METHODS: In 2,082 consecutive patients with first-ever ischaemic stroke collected from a prospective hospital-based stroke registry during a period of 19 years (1986-2004), statin use or hypercholesterolemia before stroke was documented in 381 patients. On the other hand, favourable outcome defined as grades 0-2 in the modified Rankin scale was recorded in 382 patients. RESULTS: Early outcome was better in the presence of statin therapy or hypercholesterolemia (cholesterol levels were not measured) with significant differences between the groups with and without pretreatment with statins in in-hospital mortality (6% vs 13.3%, P = 0.001) and symptom-free (22% vs 17.5%, P = 0.025) and severe functional limitation (6.6% vs 11.5%, P = 0.002) at hospital discharge, as well as lower rates of infectious respiratory complications during hospitalization. In the logistic regression model, statin therapy was the only variable inversely associated with in-hospital death (odds ratio 0.57) and directly associated with favourable outcome (odds ratio 1.32). CONCLUSIONS: Use of statins or hypercholesterolemia before first-ever ischaemic stroke was associated with better early outcome with a reduced mortality during hospitalization and neurological disability at hospital discharge. However, statin therapy may increase the risk of intracerebral haemorrhage, particularly in the setting of thrombolysis.

[In-hospital mortality in middle cerebral artery infarcts: clinical study of 1355 patients]. / Mortalidad hospitalaria en los infartos isquémicos de la arteria cerebral media: estudio de 1,355 pacientes.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To determine clinical predictors of in-hospital mortality in patients with middle cerebral artery infarcts (MCAI). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data from 1.355 patients with MCAI were obtained from consecutive strokes included in the "Sagrat Cor Hospital of Barcelona Stroke Registry". Demographic, clinical, neuroimaging and outcome variables in the subgroup of patients who died were compared with those in the surviving subgroup. The independent predictive value of each variable on the development of death was assessed with a logistic regression analysis. Two predictive models were constructed. A first model was based on demographic, risk factors and clinical variables (total 14 variables). A second model was based on demographic, risk factors, clinical and outcome variables (total 20). RESULTS: In-hospital death was observed in 235 patients (17.3%). Early seizures (OR=4.49; CI 95%: 1.77-11.40), 85 years old or more (OR=2.61; CI 95%: 1.88-2.60), atrial fibrillation (OR=2.57; CI 95%: 1.89-3.49), limb weakness (OR=2.55; CI 95%: 1.40-4.66), cardiac heart disease (OR=2.33; CI 95%: 1.43-3.80) and sensory symptoms (OR=2.29; CI 95%: 1.68-3.12) appeared to be independent prognostic factors of in-hospital mortality in the first predictive model. In addition to these variables, cardiac complications (OR=5.50: CI 95%: 3.21-9.40), peripheral vascular complications (OR=3.74; CI 95%: 1.58-8.85), previous cerebral infarct (OR=1.89: CI 95%: 1.27-2.80), infections (OR=1.82; CI 95%; 1.27-2.61), and lacunar infarcts (OR=0.02; CI 95%: 0.01-0.17), appeared to be independent prognostic factors of in-hospital mortality in the second model. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical features easily obtained at the patient's bedside help clinicians to predict in-hospital mortality in patients with MCAI. Early seizures and age 85 years old or more, were the main clinical predictors of in-hospital mortality.

Importancia del perfil cardiovascular en la mortalidad hospitalaria de los infartos cerebrales / Importance of cardiovascular risk profile for in-hospital mortality due to cerebral infarction

Introducción y objetivos. Analizar el perfil cardiovascular y su pronóstico en los infartos cerebrales y sus subtipos etiológicos. Métodos. Se efectúa un análisis retrospectivo de una serie clínica de 2.704 pacientes con infartos cerebrales procedentes de un registro hospitalario de ictus ingresados entre 1986 y 2004 (770 trombóticos, 763 cardioembólicos, 733 lacunares, 324 indeterminados y 114 inhabituales). Se compara el perfil cardiovascular de cada subtipo etiológico y su influencia con la mortalidad hospitalaria mediante un análisis multivariable. Resultados. La hipertensión arterial (HTA) se presentó en el 55,5%, seguida por la fibrilación auricular (FA) (29,8%) y la diabetes mellitus (23,4%). La mortalidad hospitalaria fue del 12,9% y estaba relacionada con la FA (odds ratio [OR] = 2,33; intervalo de confianza [IC] del 95%, 1,84-2,96) y la insuficiencia cardiaca (OR = 1,96; IC del 95%, 1,33-2,89). El perfil cardiovascular asociado a la mortalidad estaba formado en los trombóticos, por la insuficiencia cardiaca (OR = 2,87; IC del 95%, 1,45-5,71), la FA (OR = 1,80; IC del 95%, 1,09-2,96) y la edad (OR = 1,06; IC del 95%, 1,04-1,08); en los cardioembólicos, por la enfermedad vascular periférica (OR = 2,18; IC del 95%, 1,17-4,05), el infarto cerebral previo (OR = 1,75; IC del 95%, 1,16-2,63), la insuficiencia cardiaca (OR = 1,71; IC del 95%, 1,01-2,90) y la edad (OR = 1,06; IC del 95%, 1,04-1,08), y en los infartos indeterminados, por la HTA (OR = 3,68; IC del 95%, 1,78-7,62) y la edad (OR = 1,05; IC del 95%, 1,01-1,09). Conclusiones. Cada subtipo etiológico de infarto cerebral presenta un perfil cardiovascular propio. El perfil cardiovascular asociado a la mortalidad también es diferente en cada subtipo de infarto cerebral. Palabras clave: Isquemia cerebral. Factores de riesgo. Mortalidad. Hipertensión arterial. Fibrilación auricular. Registros de ictus (AU)

Introduction and objectives. To investigate cardiovascular risk profiles and their prognostic implications in patients with different subtypes of cerebral infarction. Methods. The study involved the retrospective analysis of data from a hospital stroke registry on 2704 consecutive CI patients who were admitted between 1986 and 2004. Of the 2704 strokes recorded, 770 were classified as thrombotic, 763 as cardioembolic, 733 as lacunar, 324 as undetermined, and 114 as atypical. Multivariate analysis was used to compare cardiovascular risk profiles in each subtype and their influence on inhospital mortality. Results. Arterial hypertension (AH) was present in 55.5%, atrial fibrillation (AF) in 29.8%, and diabetes mellitus in 23.4%. The in-hospital mortality rate was 12.9%, and in-hospital mortality was independently associated with AF (odds ratio [OR]=2.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.84-2.96), and heart failure (HF) (OR=1.96; 95% CI, 1.33-2.89). In patients with thrombotic stroke, the cardiovascular risk factors associated with in-hospital mortality were HF (OR=2.87; 95% CI, 1.45-5.71), AF (OR=1.80; 95% CI, 1.09-2.96) and age (OR=1.06; 95% CI, 1.04-1.08). In patients with cardioembolic stroke, they were peripheral vascular disease (OR=2.18; 95% CI, 1.17-4.05), previous cerebral infarction (OR=1.75; 95% CI, 1.16-2.63), HF (OR=1.71; 95% CI, 1.01-2.90), and age (OR=1.06; 95% CI, 1.04-1.08). In those with undetermined stroke, they were AH (OR=3.68; 95% CI, 1.78-7.62) and age (OR=1.05; 95% CI, 1.01-1.09). Conclusions. Each cerebral infarction etiologic subtype was associated with its own cardiovascular risk profile. Consequently, the cardiovascular risk factors associated with mortality were also different for each ischemic stroke subtype (AU)

Trends in risk factors, stroke subtypes and outcome. Nineteen-year data from the Sagrat Cor Hospital of Barcelona stroke registry.

BACKGROUND: Prospective stroke registries allow analyzing important aspects of the natural history of acute cerebrovascular events. Using the Sagrat Cor Hospital of Barcelona Stroke Registry, we aimed to determine trends in risk factors, stroke subtypes, prognosis and in-hospital mortality over 19 years in hospitalized stroke patients. METHODS: The study population consisted of 2,416 first-ever stroke patients (ischemic stroke, n = 2,028; intracerebral hemorrhage, n = 334) included in the stroke registry up to December 31, 2004. Temporal trends in stroke patient characteristics for the periods 1986-1992, 1993-1998 and 1999-2004 were assessed. RESULTS: Age was significantly different among the analyzed periods (p < 0.001), showing an increment in older patients throughout time. Hypertension (p = 0.001), diabetes (p = 0.004), ischemic heart disease (p = 0.002) and atrial fibrillation increased (p = 0.000) as opposed to heavy smoking (p = 0.000) and history of TIA (p = 0.025). The mortality rate and the length of hospital stay decreased (p = 0.001), whereas transfer to convalescent/rehabilitation units increased (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: An improvement in acute-stroke management and possibly evolution of cerebrovascular risk factors is reflected by changes in the risk factors and outcome of first-ever stroke patients admitted to a stroke unit over a 19-year time span.

Importance of cardiovascular risk profile for in-hospital mortality due to cerebral infarction.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate cardiovascular risk profiles and their prognostic implications in patients with different subtypes of cerebral infarction. METHODS: The study involved the retrospective analysis of data from a hospital stroke registry on 2704 consecutive CI patients who were admitted between 1986 and 2004. Of the 2704 strokes recorded, 770 were classified as thrombotic, 763 as cardioembolic, 733 as lacunar, 324 as undetermined and 114 as atypical. Multivariate analysis was used to compare cardiovascular risk profiles in each subtype and their influence on inhospital mortality. RESULTS: Arterial hypertension (AH) was present in 55.5%, atrial fibrillation (AF) in 29.8%, and diabetes mellitus in 23.4%. The in-hospital mortality rate was 12.9%, and in-hospital mortality was independently associated with AF (odds ratio [OR]=2.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.84-2.96), and heart failure (HF) (OR=1.96; 95% CI, 1.33-2.89). In patients with thrombotic stroke, the cardiovascular risk factors associated with in-hospital mortality were HF (OR=2.87; 95% CI, 1.45-5.71), AF (OR=1.80; 95% CI, 1.09-2.96) and age (OR=1.06; 95% CI, 1.04-1.08). In patients with cardioembolic stroke, they were peripheral vascular disease (OR=2.18; 95% CI, 1.17-4.05), previous cerebral infarction (OR=1.75; 95% CI, 1.16-2.63), HF (OR=1.71; 95% CI, 1.01-2.90), and age (OR=1.06; 95% CI, 1.04-1.08). In those with undetermined stroke, they were AH (OR=3.68; 95% CI, 1.78-7.62) and age (OR=1.05; 95% CI, 1.01-1.09). CONCLUSIONS: Each cerebral infarction etiologic subtype was associated with its own cardiovascular risk profile. Consequently, the cardiovascular risk factors associated with mortality were also different for each ischemic stroke subtype.

Irinotecan (CPT-11) combined with bolus 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin (Saltz regimen) as first-line chemotherapy of patients with advanced colorectal cancer.

Concerns about the safety of irinotecan (CPT-11) plus bolus 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)/leucovorin (LV) (the so-called Saltz regimen) have been previously reported. This prospective, multicenter, non-randomized study evaluated the anti-tumoral effect and toxicity of the Saltz regimen as first-line chemotherapy of 130 patients with advanced colorectal cancer (CRC). The median numbers of treatment cycles and infusions received per patient were 3 and 12, respectively. Eight (6.1) and 37 patients (28.5%) showed complete and partial responses, respectively [overall response rate=34.6% (95% confidence interval=20.7-48.5%)]. After a median follow up period of 9 months, 70 patients had died. The median progression-free survival and overall survival were 6.78 (0.3-33.8) and 8.26 months (range 0.3-33.8), respectively. The combined CPT-11/5-FU/LV treatment was well tolerated and no toxic deaths were reported. The most common grade 3/4 hematological toxicity was neutropenia (28% of patients and 3% of infusions), but no febrile neutropenia was reported. Delayed diarrhea was the most reported grade 3/4 non-hematological toxicity (21% of patients and 2% of infusions). Other non-hematological toxicities showed very low incidences. During the study five patients died due to factors not associated with disease progression. We conclude that the Saltz regimen administered on an outpatient basis was safe and well tolerated in patients with advanced CRC. Close monitoring of external patients together with an early treatment of toxicity was found to be essential to prevent severe and potentially fatal gastrointestinal or thromboembolic events previously reported with this CPT-11 combined regimen.

Cardiovascular risk factors in patients aged 85 or older with ischemic stroke.

OBJECTIVES: To define a cardiovascular risk factor profile in very old patients with ischemic stroke. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data from a prospective hospital-based stroke registry was collected. Demographic characteristics and cardiovascular risk factors in individuals aged 85 years or older with ischemic stroke (n=303) were compared with patients under 85 years (n=1537). RESULTS: The study population accounted for 16.5% of all cases of ischemic stroke. The mean (S.D.) age was 88.2 (2.8) years (70% women). Hypertension occurred in 44.9% of patients, atrial fibrillation in 42.6%, diabetes in 16.2%, and congestive heart failure in 15.5%. The most frequent stroke subtypes were cardioembolic (36%) and atherothrombotic (31.4%) infarction. Congestive heart failure (odds ratio [OR]=3.62), chronic renal disease (OR=2.54), female sex (OR=2.27), previous cerebrovascular disease (OR=1.71), and atrial fibrillation (OR=1.38) were significantly associated with ischemic stroke, whereas diabetes (OR=0.68), hypertension (OR=0.61), hyperlipidemia (OR=0.45), and heavy smoking (OR=0.21) occurred more frequently in patients under 85 years. CONCLUSION: Adequate treatment of potentially modifiable risk factors, including congestive heart failure, chronic renal disease, and atrial fibrillation may contribute to prevent ischemic stroke in very old people.

FOLFOX alternated with FOLFIRI as first-line chemotherapy for metastatic colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), irinotecan, and oxaliplatin are the most active drugs in advanced colorectal cancer (CRC), and survival is improved with patient exposure to all of them. The efficacy and safety of an alternating schedule of continuous-infusion 5-FU with leucovorin (LV) plus oxaliplatin (ie, FOLFOX regimen) or irinotecan (ie, FOLFIRI regimen) was assessed in the first-line setting. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seventy-nine patients with previously untreated, unresectable CRC were included. Treatment consisted of 5-FU/LV (de Gramont schedule) plus oxaliplatin (85 mg/m2) alternated biweekly with the same 5-FU/LV regimen plus irinotecan (180 mg/m2). Treatment was maintained until tumor progression or unacceptable toxicity was noted. RESULTS: Median age was 62 years. Performance status was 0/1 in 91% of patients, 63% had 1 organ involved, and 80% had liver metastases. A median of 6 courses per patient (range, 1-9) and a total of 952 infusions were given. The most frequent grade 3/4 toxic events were neutropenia (32%), diarrhea (26%), and asthenia (7%). Grade 1/2 neurotoxicity was seen in 59% of cases, but no grade 3/4 neurotoxicity was observed. There were no toxic deaths. An objective response rate of 54% (4 complete responses plus 39 partial responses) was attained. Median time to progression and overall survival were 13 months and 18 months, respectively. CONCLUSION: This alternating schedule is active, with efficacy results similar to those seen with sequential protocols, the advantages of less toxicity, and 100% patient exposure to irinotecan and oxaliplatin.

First-line treatment with irinotecan and raltitrexed in metastatic colorectal cancer. Mature results of a multicenter phase II study.

OBJECTIVES: The combination of irinotecan and raltitrexed is safe and active in 5-fluorouracil-refractory, metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC), with the advantage of its convenient three-weekly schedule. The aim of this multicenter phase II study was to assess its efficacy and toxicity in first-line treatment. METHODS: Between May 2000 and March 2001, 62 previously untreated patients received irinotecan (350 mg/m(2)) plus raltitrexed (3 mg/m(2)), with courses repeated every 21 days. Objective response was assessed every three courses, and treatment maintained until tumor progression or unacceptable toxicity. RESULTS: A total of 331 cycles were administered, with a median of five cycles per patient (range, 1-16). Seventeen patients achieved a partial response and 2 a complete response, for an overall intention-to-treat response rate of 30% (95% confidence interval, 18-44%). The incidence of grade 3-4 toxicity per patient was diarrhea (27%), emesis (13%), anemia (12%), neutropenia (9%), and asthenia (7%). Three patients (5%) died from treatment-related adverse events (diarrhea plus neutropenia). The median potential follow-up is now 37 months. Median survival was 12.2 months, and median time to progression was 6.3 months. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of irinotecan plus raltitrexed is an easy comfortable schedule for patients with metastatic CRC, but both efficacy and toxicity results seem suboptimal for first-line treatment.

Ischemic stroke in patients with intermittent claudication: a clinical study of 142 cases.

The clinical features, risk factors, neuroimaging findings, and outcome of acute ischemic stroke were assessed in patients with intermittent claudication. Data from 142 patients with ischemic stroke and intermittent claudication were collected from a prospective hospital-based stroke registry in which 2500 consecutive acute stroke patients attended over a 12-year period. Ischemic stroke in patients with intermittent claudication accounted for 7.7% of all ischemic strokes (n = 1840). Ischemic stroke with and without intermittent claudication showed a similar in-hospital mortality rate (16% vs 14%) and absence of functional limitation at hospital discharge (20.5% vs 18.5%). Ischemic stroke patients with intermittent claudication showed a significantly shorter length of stay than patients without symptomatic peripheral arterial disease (14.6 vs 18.8 days, p < 0.05). Ischemic heart disease, transient ischemic attack (TIA), renal dysfunction, and watershed infarct were significant independent predictors of ischemic stroke in patients with intermittent claudication. Although cerebral infarction in patients with intermittent claudication showed a clinical profile suggestive of poor outcome, the prognosis was similar to that of ischemic stroke without intermittent claudication.

Prognostic value of very early seizures for in-hospital mortality in atherothrombotic infarction.

We studied the influence of very early seizures (within 48 h of stroke onset) on in-hospital mortality in a cohort of 452 consecutive patients with atherothrombotic infarction. These patients were selected from 2000 consecutive acute stroke patients registered in a prospective hospital-based stroke registry in Barcelona, Spain. A comparison of data between the nonseizure (n = 442) and seizure (n = 10) groups was made. Predictors of very early seizures were assessed by multivariate analysis. The in-hospital mortality rate was significantly higher in atherothrombotic stroke patients with very early seizures than in those without seizures (70 vs. 19.5%, p < 0.001). Independent predictors of in-hospital mortality included very early seizures, congestive heart failure, atrial fibrillation, 85 years of age or older, altered consciousness, dizziness, parietal and pons involvement, and respiratory and cardiac complications. After multivariate analysis, atherothrombotic infarction of occipital topography and decreased consciousness appeared to be independent predictors of atherothrombotic stroke with very early seizures. Very early seizures constitute an important risk factor for in-hospital mortality after atherothrombotic stroke.

Predicting spontaneous early neurological recovery after acute ischemic stroke.

We assessed predictors of spontaneous early neurological recovery after acute ischemic stroke by means of multivariate analysis in a cohort of 1,473 consecutive patients treated at one academic center. At hospital discharge, spontaneous neurological improvement or good outcome was defined as grades 0-2 of the Rankin scale, and poor outcome (no improvement or in-hospital death) as grades 3-5. Spontaneous recovery of neurological deficit at the time of discharge from the hospital was observed in 16% of patients with cerebral infarction (n = 238). Dysarthria-clumsy hand syndrome improved in 44% of patients and was the only variable significantly associated with in-hospital functional recovery in three logistic regression models that in addition to lacunar syndromes, included demographic variables, cardiovascular risk factors, and clinical variables [odds ratio (OR) 2.56], neuroimaging findings (OR 2.48), and outcome data (OR 2.39), respectively. Clinical factors related to severity of infarction available at stroke onset have a predominant influence upon in-hospital outcome and may help clinicians to assess prognosis more accurately. Our work gives a contribution into prognostic factors after acute ischemic stroke. With regard to patterns of stroke, dysarthria-clumsy hand syndrome was a significant predictor of spontaneous in-hospital recovery in ischemic stroke patients.

Factores de riesgo en la enfermedad cerebrovascular aguda: estudio comparativo entre el infarto y la hemorragia cerebral en 1.702 pacientes / Different vascular risk factor profiles in ischemic stroke versus intracerebral hemorrhage: a study in 1,702 consecutive patients with acute stroke

FUNDAMENTO: Conocer y comparar el perfil de factores de riesgo cerebrovascular en los pacientes con infarto cerebral y con hemorragia intracerebral. PACIENTES Y MÉTODO: La muestra está constituida por 1.473 pacientes con infartos cerebrales y 229 pacientes con hemorragias intracerebrales, ingresados consecutivamente en el servicio de neurología e incluidos prospectivamente en el registro de enfermedades vasculares cerebrales del Hospital del Sagrat Cor de Barcelona, durante un período de 10 años. La frecuencia de los diferentes factores de riesgo entre ambos subtipos de ictus se analizó y comparó mediante un análisis univariante y un modelo de regresión logística. RESULTADOS: La hipertensión arterial constituyó el principal factor de riesgo tanto en los infartos cerebrales (52,1 por ciento) como en las hemorragias intracerebrales (60,7 por ciento). Al efectuar el análisis de regresión logística, el perfil de factores de riesgo significativamente asociados con los infartos cerebrales fue: enfermedad valvular cardíaca (OR = 5,96; IC del 95 por ciento, 1,42-24,88), ataques isquémicos transitorios (AIT) (OR = 4,16; IC del 95 por ciento, 2-8,64), fibrilación auricular (OR = 2,95; IC del 95 por ciento, 1,88-4,64), infartos cerebrales previos (OR = 2,58; IC del 95 por ciento, 1,534,35), cardiopatía isquémica (OR = 2,55; IC del 95 por ciento, 1,41-4,62), dislipemia (OR = 2,12; IC del 95 por ciento, 1,32-3,4), hipertensión arterial (OR = 0,64; IC del 95 por ciento, 0,48-0,87), hepatopatía crónica (OR = 0,32; IC del 95 por ciento, 0,14-0,73), hemorragia cerebral previa (OR = 0,24; IC del 95 por ciento, 0,09-0,64) y toma de anticoagulantes orales (OR = 0,11; IC del 95 por ciento, 0,03-0,36). CONCLUSIONES: Existe un perfil de factores de riesgo vascular diferenciado y potencialmente modificable en los infartos y en las hemorragias cerebrales (AU)