Ictus cardioembólico por fibrilación auricular y nuevos criterios de anticoagulación: un reto terapéutico / Cardioembolic stroke in atrial fibrillation and new anticoagulation criteria: a therapeutic dare

Introducción. La fibrilación auricular (FA) aumenta por cinco el riesgo de ictus. El nuevo esquema de estratificación de riesgo para instauración de anticoagulación oral CHA2-DS2-VASc obtiene mejores resultados en la estratificación del riesgo de ictus frente a la previa escala CHADS2. Objetivo. Evaluar en pacientes con FA conocida e ictus cardioembólico la indicación de anticoagulación oral conforme al riesgo previo embolígeno según la escala CHADS2 y la nueva clasificación CHA2-DS2-VASc, valorando el riesgo hemorrá- gico con la escala HAS-BLED. Pacientes y métodos. Se incluyeron 164 pacientes con FA e ictus cardioembólico, 87 de los cuales tenían FA conocida. Se registró tratamiento precedente anticoagulante y criterios de anticoagulación previos según las escalas CHADS2 y CHA2- DS2-VASc, incluyendo la escala de riesgo hemorrágico HAS-BLED. En anticoagulados se registró un nivel de índice internacional normalizado (INR) en fase aguda del ictus. Resultados. No hubo diferencias significativas en características basales según anticogulación previa, excepto mayor porcentaje de ictus en anticogulados (47%). El 41,3% con FA conocida estaba anticoagulado antes del ictus. De los 52 pacientes no anticoagulados, el 61,5% tenía criterios de anticoagulación previos al ictus según la CHADS2. Usando la CHA2-DS2- VASc, dicho porcentaje aumentó al 94,2% (p < 0,001). El 78,8% de los no anticoagulados presentaba bajo riesgo de sangrado según la escala HAS-BLED. En pacientes anticoagulados, el 67,6% presentaba INR infraterapéutico en el momento del ictus. Conclusión. En nuestro medio, detectamos bajo cumplimiento de escalas de estratificación de riesgo tromboembólico en pacientes con FA para una estrategia óptima de tratamiento. Es preciso su mayor uso para la prevención primaria del ictus y la optimización del tratamiento anticoagulante en pacientes con FA (AU)

Aim. To evaluate in patients with known AF and cardioembolic stroke, the indication of oral anticoagulation under previous risk embolism according to the CHADS2 scale and new classification CHA2-DS2-VASc, assessing the risk of bleeding with HAS-BLED scale. Patients and methods. We included 164 patients with atrial fibrillation and cardioembolic stroke, 87 of them with known AF. It was recorded previous anticoagulant treatment and criteria for prior anticoagulation taking into account CHADS2 scales and CHA2-DS2-VASc, including hemorrhagic risk scale HAS-BLED. In anticoagulated patients INR level was recorded in acute stroke phase. Results. There were no significant differences in baseline patients characteristics according to previous anticoagulation, except higher percentage of previous stroke in anticoagulated patients (47%). 41.3% were anticoagulated with known AF prior to stroke. From 52 non-anticoagulated patients, 61.5% met criteria for anticoagulation prior to stroke as CHADS2. Using CHA2-DS2-VASc, this percentage increased to 94.2% (p <0.001). 78.8% of non-anticoagulated had a low risk of bleeding according to the scale HAS-BLED. In anticoagulated patients, 67.6% had suboptimal INR at the time of stroke. Conclusion. In our study, we found low compliance scales of thromboembolic risk stratification in patients with AF for an optimal treatment strategy. It should be increased its use for primary prevention of stroke and optimization of anticoagulant therapy in patients with AF (AU)

Risk factors and neurological consequences of syncopes induced by internal carotid artery angioplasty.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Syncope and carotid sinus reactions (CSR) occur frequently in patients undergoing carotid angioplasty (CA). We investigated risk factors and the neurological consequences of carotid sinus syncope induced by CA. METHODS: We examined 359 consecutive patients. Patients underwent assessment of cerebrovascular reserve before CA and continuous electroencephalographical monitoring during the procedure. We examined the impact of vascular risk factors, cerebral hemodynamics, characteristics of plaque, and procedural modality on the incidence of CSR and syncope. The effect of syncopes on periprocedural complication rates was also investigated. RESULTS: CSR and syncope occurred in 62.7% and 18.0% of the procedures, respectively. The occurrence of CSR during angioplasty was significantly associated with the appearance of syncope. The incidence of syncope was significantly higher in longer plaques located in the carotid bifurcation, in the presence of contralateral carotid stenosis, or when protection devices were used. Although TIA during CA was more common in syncopal patients, stroke or death rates were similar in the 2 groups. CONCLUSIONS: Syncope occurs more frequently in patients with long plaques proximal to the carotid bifurcation, but it does not increase the periprocedural complications rate.

Internal carotid artery stenting in patients with symptomatic atheromatous pseudo-occlusion.

Angioplasty and stenting of the atheromatous internal carotid artery (ICA), besides in patients with a high surgical risk, may be indicated in specific cases such as contralateral occlusion, acute stroke clinical signs, or atherosclerotic pseudo-occlusion (APO). APO of the ICA is an underrecognized condition due to diagnostic difficulties both with noninvasive methods and even with angiography. Once recognized, there is usually the opportunity for successful revascularization with carotid endarterectomy. However, as the natural history of the APO is poorly characterized, the management of patients remains controversial. While some authors advocate a surgical approach, others consider that APO patients are not at high risk of stroke, making any interventional approach unnecessary. The perioperative risk of stroke in patients with APO is not appreciably greater than in patients with lesser degrees of stenosis and clear recommendation of surgery, although at 2 years that risk seems to be considerably much higher than in the latter patients. Looking for safer interventional procedures is worthwhile. Results of angioplasty and stenting in patients with ICA-APO have not been published yet. We report the results and complications associated with this procedure to address the issue of appropriate management of patients with ICA-APO.