ABSTRACT
Background@#and Purpose This study aimed to investigate the effect of endovascular treatment (EVT, with or without intravenous thrombolysis [IVT]) versus IVT alone on outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) and intracranial large vessel occlusion (LVO) attributable to cervical artery dissection (CeAD). @*Methods@#This multinational cohort study was conducted based on prospectively collected data from the EVA-TRISP (EndoVAscular treatment and ThRombolysis for Ischemic Stroke Patients) collaboration. Consecutive patients (2015–2019) with AIS-LVO attributable to CeAD treated with EVT and/or IVT were included. Primary outcome measures were (1) favorable 3-month outcome (modified Rankin Scale score 0–2) and (2) complete recanalization (thrombolysis in cerebral infarction scale 2b/3). Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (OR [95% CI]) from logistic regression models were calculated (unadjusted, adjusted). Secondary analyses were performed in the patients with LVO in the anterior circulation (LVOant) including propensity score matching. @*Results@#Among 290 patients, 222 (76.6%) had EVT and 68 (23.4%) IVT alone. EVT-treated patients had more severe strokes (National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, median [interquartile range]: 14 [10–19] vs. 4 [2–7], P<0.001). The frequency of favorable 3-month outcome did not differ significantly between both groups (EVT: 64.0% vs. IVT: 86.8%; ORadjusted 0.56 [0.24–1.32]). EVT was associated with higher rates of recanalization (80.5% vs. 40.7%; ORadjusted 8.85 [4.28–18.29]) compared to IVT. All secondary analyses showed higher recanalization rates in the EVT-group, which however never translated into better functional outcome rates compared to the IVT-group. @*Conclusion@#We observed no signal of superiority of EVT over IVT regarding functional outcome in CeAD-patients with AIS and LVO despite higher rates of complete recanalization with EVT. Whether pathophysiological CeAD-characteristics or their younger age might explain this observation deserves further research.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Pre-stroke dependency (PSD) is associated with poor outcome after stroke. The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes and safety of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in pre-stroke dependent patients compared to pre-stroke independent patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We included consecutive patients with anterior circulation acute ischaemic stroke related to large vessel occlusion (AIS-LVO), treated by MT between January 1st 2015 and July 1st 2018 in our single comprehensive stroke center. PSD was defined as a mRS score of 3 to 5 before stroke onset. We studied outcome variables in pre-stroke dependent vs. independent patients, by using logistic regression models. Clinical outcomes included clinical favorable outcome at 3 months (defined as modified Rankin Score 0-2 or equal to pre-stroke mRS score), successful recanalization rates and safety outcomes. RESULTS: Of 922 patients with anterior circulation AIS-LVO, 155 (16.8%) had PSD. Favorable outcome was less often achieved in patients with PSD (25.8% vs. 44.7%, p <0.001); but the difference did not remain significant in multivariable analysis (adjusted OR, 0.70; 95%CI, 0.44 to 1.12). Mortality at 90-days was significantly higher in patients with PSD (49.0% vs. 18.8%, adjusted OR, 2.63; 95%CI, 1.69 to 4.00). Successful recanalization was strongly associated with favorable outcome (adjusted OR, 8.15; 95%CI 4.97 to 13.34). CONCLUSIONS: One out of four patients with PSD had a favorable outcome after MT. Despite higher mortality rates compared to pre-stroke independent patients, PSD alone should not be used alone to deny mechanical thrombectomy.
