The relationship between atherosclerosis and dementia.

OBJECTIVE: The main objective is to confirm a hypothesis that atherosclerosis, through various mechanisms, considerably influences cognitive impairment and significantly increases the risk for developing dementia. Complete sample should be 920 individuals. The present study aimed to analyse epidemiological data from a questionnaire survey. METHODS: The work was carried out in the form of an epidemiological case control study. Subjects are enrolled in the study based on results of the following examinations carried out in neurology departments and outpatient centres during the project NU20-09-00119 from 2020 to 2023. Respondents were divided into four research groups according to the results of clinical examination for the presence of atherosclerosis and dementia. The survey was mainly concerned with risk factors for both atherosclerosis and dementia. It contained questions on lifestyle factors, cardiovascular risk factors, leisure activities, and hobbies. RESULTS: Analysis of the as yet incomplete sample of 877 subjects has yielded the following selected results: on average, 16% of subjects without dementia had primary education while the proportion was 45.2% in the group with both dementia and atherosclerosis. Subjects with dementia did mainly physical work. Low physical activity was more frequently noted in dementia groups (Group 2 - 54.4% and Group 3 - 47.2%) than in subjects without dementia (Group 1 - 19.6% and Group 4 - 25.8%). Coronary heart disease was more frequently reported by dementia patients (33.95%) than those without dementia (16.05%). CONCLUSION: Cognitively impaired individuals, in particular those with vascular cognitive impairment, have poorer quality of life and shorter survival. Risk factors contributing to such impairment are similar to those for ischaemic or haemorrhagic stroke. It may be concluded that most of the analysed risk factors play a role in the development of both atherosclerosis and dementia.

Peak systolic velocity ratio for evaluation of internal carotid artery stenosis correlated with plaque morphology: substudy results of the ANTIQUE study.

Background: Accurate assessment of carotid stenosis severity is important for proper patient management. The present study aimed to compare the evaluation of carotid stenosis severity using four duplex sonography (DUS) measurements, including peak systolic velocity (PSV), PSV ratio in stenosis and distal to stenosis (PSVICA/ICA ratio), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), and B-mode, with computed tomography angiography (CTA), and to evaluate the impact of plaque morphology on correlation between DUS and CTA. Methods: Consecutive patients with carotid stenosis of ≥40% examined using DUS and CTA were included. Plaque morphology was also determined using magnetic resonance imaging. Spearman's correlation and Kendall's rank correlation were used to evaluate the results. Results: A total of 143 cases of internal carotid artery stenosis of ≥40% based on DUS were analyzed. The PSVICA/ICA ratio showed the highest correlation [Spearman's correlation r = 0.576) with CTA, followed by PSV (r = 0.526), B-mode measurement (r = 0.482), and EDV (r = 0.441; p < 0.001 in all cases]. The worst correlation was found for PSV when the plaque was calcified (r = 0.238), whereas EDV showed a higher correlation (r = 0.523). Correlations of B-mode measurement were superior for plaques with smooth surface (r = 0.677), while the PSVICA/ICA ratio showed the highest correlation in stenoses with irregular (r = 0.373) or ulcerated (r = 0.382) surfaces, as well as lipid (r = 0.406), fibrous (r = 0.461), and mixed (r = 0.403; p < 0.01 in all cases) plaques. Nevertheless, differences between the mentioned correlations were not statistically significant (p > 0.05 in all cases). Conclusion: PSV, PSVICA/ICA ratio, EDV, and B-mode measurements showed comparable correlations with CTA in evaluation of carotid artery stenosis based on their correlation with CTA results. Heavy calcifications and plaque surface irregularity or ulceration negatively influenced the measurement accuracy.

Comparison of carotid endarterectomy and repeated carotid angioplasty and stenting for in-stent restenosis (CERCAS trial): a randomised study.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: In-stent restenosis (ISR) belongs to an infrequent but potentially serious complication after carotid angioplasty and stenting in patients with severe carotid stenosis. Some of these patients might be contraindicated to repeat percutaneous transluminal angioplasty with or without stenting (rePTA/S). The purpose of the study is to compare the safety and effectiveness of carotid endarterectomy with stent removal (CEASR) and rePTA/S in patients with carotid ISR. METHODS: Consecutive patients with carotid ISR (≥80%) were randomly allocated to the CEASR or rePTA/S group. The incidence of restenosis after intervention, stroke, transient ischaemic attack myocardial infarction and death 30 days and 1 year after intervention and restenosis 1 year after intervention between patients in CEASR and rePTA/S groups were statistically evaluated. RESULTS: A total of 31 patients were included in the study; 14 patients (9 males; mean age 66.3±6.6 years) were allocated to CEASR and 17 patients (10 males; mean age 68.8±5.6 years) to the rePTA/S group. The implanted stent in carotid restenosis was successfully removed in all patients in the CEASR group. No clinical vascular event was recorded periproceduraly, 30 days and 1 year after intervention in both groups. Only one patient in the CEASR group had asymptomatic occlusion of the intervened carotid artery within 30 days and one patient died in the rePTA/S group within 1 year after intervention. Restenosis after intervention was significantly greater in the rePTA/S group (mean 20.9%) than in the CEASR group (mean 0%, p=0.04), but all stenoses were <50%. Incidence of 1-year restenosis that was ≥70% did not differ between the rePTA/S and CEASR groups (4 vs 1 patient; p=0.233). CONCLUSION: CEASR seems to be effective and save procedures for patients with carotid ISR and might be considered as a treatment option. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05390983.

Emergent microsurgical intervention for acute stroke after mechanical thrombectomy failure: a prospective study.

BACKGROUND: Despite all the gains that have been achieved with endovascular mechanical thrombectomy revascularization and intravenous thrombolysis logistics since 2015, there is still a subgroup of patients with salvageable brain tissue for whom persistent emergent large vessel occlusion portends a catastrophic outcome. OBJECTIVE: To test the safety and efficacy of emergent microsurgical intervention in patients with acute ischemic stroke and symptomatic middle cerebral artery occlusion after failure of mechanical thrombectomy. METHODS: A prospective two-center cohort study was conducted. Patients with acute ischemic stroke and middle cerebral artery occlusion for whom recanalization failed at center 1 were randomly allocated to the microsurgical intervention group (MSIG) or control group 1 (CG1). All similar patients at center 2 were included in the control group 2 (CG2) with no surgical intervention. Microsurgical embolectomy and/or extracranial-intracranial bypass was performed in all MSIG patients at center 1. RESULTS: A total of 47 patients were enrolled in the study: 22 at center 1 (12 allocated to the MSIG and 10 to the CG1) and 25 patients at center 2 (CG2). MSIG group patients showed a better clinical outcome on day 90 after the stroke, where a modified Rankin Scale score of 0-2 was reached in 7 (58.3%) of 12 patients compared with 1/10 (10.0%) patients in the CG1 and 3/12 (12.0%) in the CG2. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated the potential for existing microsurgical techniques to provide good outcomes in 58% of microsurgically treated patients as a third-tier option.

Endovascular treatment for acute ischemic stroke in patients with tandem lesion in the anterior circulation: analysis from the METRICS study.

BACKGROUND: Acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to anterior circulation tandem lesion (TL) remains a technical and clinical challenge for endovascular treatment (EVT). Conflicting results from observational studies and missing evidence from the randomized trials led us to report a recent real-world multicenter clinical experience and evaluate possible predictors of good outcome after EVT. METHODS: We analyzed all AIS patients with TL enrolled in the prospective national study METRICS (Mechanical Thrombectomy Quality Indicators Study in Czech Stroke Centers). A good 3-month clinical outcome was scored as 0-2 points in modified Rankin Scale (mRS), achieved recanalization using the Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction (TICI) scale and symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH) according to the Safe Implementation of Thrombolysis in Stroke-Monitoring Study (SITS-MOST) criteria. RESULTS: Of 1178 patients enrolled in METRICS, 194 (19.2%) (59.8% males, mean age 68.7±11.5 years) were treated for TL. They did not differ in mRS 0-2 (48.7% vs 46.7%; p=0.616), mortality (17.3% vs 22.7%; p=0.103) and sICH (4.7% vs 5.1%; p=0.809) from those with single occlusion (SO). More TL patients with prior intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) reached TICI 3 (70.3% vs 50.8%; p=0.012) and mRS 0-2 (55.4% vs 34.4%; p=0.007) than those without IVT. No difference was found in the rate of sICH (6.2% vs 1.6%; p=0.276). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed prior IVT as a predictor of mRS 0-2 after adjustment for potential confounders (OR 3.818, 95% CI 1.614 to 9.030, p=0.002). CONCLUSION: Patients with TL did not differ from those with SO in outcomes after EVT. TL patients with prior IVT had more complete recanalization and mRS 0-2 and IVT was found to be a predictor of good outcome after EVT.

Changes in Cognitive Functions after Carotid Endarterectomy and Carotid Stenting: A Decade-Apart Comparison.

BACKGROUND: This study investigates changes in cognitive function in patients with severe carotid stenosis who underwent carotid endarterectomy (CEA) and carotid stenting (CAS) over two decades. METHODS: We compared cognitive function within 30 days after the procedure in 267 patients (first 100 each for CEA and CAS in two periods: 2008-2012 and 2018-2022) in a single institution. Assessments used Adenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-Revised (ACE-R), the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Speech Fluency Test (SFT), and Clock Drawing Test (CDT), conducted before and 30 ± 2 days after surgery. RESULTS: Patients (mean age 67.2 years, 70%+ carotid stenosis) exhibited different cognitive changes over periods. In 2008-2012, significant declines in MMSE (CEA, p = 0.049) and CDT (CAS, p = 0.015) were observed among asymptomatic patients. On the contrary, in 2018-2022, improvements were observed in ACE-R and MMSE for symptomatic and asymptomatic patients undergoing CEA and CAS. CONCLUSION: Over a decade, advances in interventional techniques and patient management have reduced risks of cognitive decline in patients with asymptomatic carotid stenosis and also have improved cognitive functions in both symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals.

Mechanical Thrombectomy Quality Indicators Study in Czech Stroke Centers: Results of the METRICS Study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Rigorous and regular evaluation of defined quality indicators is crucial for further improvement of both technical and clinical results after mechanical thrombectomy (MT) for acute ischemic stroke (AIS). Following the recent international multi-society consensus quality indicators, we aimed to assess trend in these indicators on national level. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The prospective multicenter study (METRICS) was conducted in Czech Republic (CR) in year 2019. All participating centers collected technical and clinical data including defined quality indicators and results were subsequently compared with those from year 2016. RESULTS: In the 2019, 1375 MT were performed in the CR and 1178 (86%) patients (50.3% males, mean age 70.5 ± 13.0 years) were analyzed. Recanalization (TICI 2b-3) was achieved in 83.7% of patients and 46.2% of patients had good 3-month clinical outcome. Following time intervals were shortened in comparison to 2016: "hospital arrival - GP" (77 vs. 53 min; p<0.0001), "hospital arrival - maximal achieved recanalization" (122 vs. 93 min; p<0.0001), and "stroke onset - maximal achieved recanalization" (240 vs. 229 min; p p<0.0001). More patients with tandem occlusion were treated in 2019 (7.8 vs. 16.5%; p<0.0001) and more secondary transports were in 2019 (31.3 vs. 37.8%; p=0.002). No difference was found in 3-month clinical outcome and in the rate of periprocedural complications. Results of the METRICS study met all criteria of multi-society consensus quality indicators. CONCLUSION: Nationwide comparison between 2016 and 2019 showed improvement in the key time intervals, but without better overall clinical outcomes after MT.

Histological Analysis of Carotid Plaques: The Predictors of Stroke Risk.

OBJECTIVES: The morphology and histological structure of the atherosclerotic plaque seem critical to its stability. Our study aimed to identify the epidemiological, morphological and histological parameters associated with stable and unstable plaques. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 280 plaques harvested from 269 consecutive patients. Epidemiological and demographic data were recorded as well as the histological features of plaque, i.e. calcifications, myxoid changes, bleeding into plaque, presence of thrombus, inflammation, macrophages, giant cell reaction, siderophages, neovascularization and plaque ossification. All specimens were classified according to the American Heart Association (AHA). RESULTS: Monofactorial analysis identified three significant histological predictors for the symptomatic plaque: a plaque with a large necrotic core (odds ratio, OR=2.0, p = 0.03), thrombosis (OR=3.7, p = 0.01) and the formation of foamy macrophages (OR=2.0, p = 0.01). Multifactorial logistic regression revealed that the presence of foamy macrophages (OR=1.9, p = 0.03) and thrombosis (OR=3.5, p = 0.02) were significant predictors of symptomatic stenosis. Symptomatic plaques were significantly more frequently classified as AHA type VI than AHA type IV-V compared to asymptomatic ones (OR=1.8, p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that no single histological feature, except for the presence of foamy macrophages and thrombosis on the plaque, is predictive of plaque instability. Rather, a complex plaque structure (AHA type VI) is predictive of plaque instability. Our findings should be kept in mind during the assessment of non-invasive imaging and stroke risk estimation.

Neuropsychological tests and prediction of dementia in association with the degree of carotid stenosis.

This study constitutes a cross sectional analysis of the association between cognitive impairment defined by neuropsychological tests and carotid stenosis. The main objective was to compare the results of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination-Revised (ACE-R) with regard to the degree of carotid stenosis. The sample comprised 744 patients who underwent a carotid duplex ultrasound and cognitive function testing (by ACE-R and MMSE). A multivariable analysis of potential confounding factors was completed. The significance of the different number of positive (MMSE ≤ 27, ACE-R ≤ 88) and negative (MMSE ≥ 28, ACE-R ≥ 89) results of the neuropsychological tests was analysed with regard to the degree of carotid stenosis (50-99%). Neuropsychological test results were also compared between carotid stenosis of 50-69%, 70-89%, and 90-99%. For both the MMSE and ACE-R, a difference was observed between positive and negative test results when higher degrees of stenosis were present. However, for the ACE-R only, more severe stenosis (80-89%, 90-99%) was predominantly associated with positive test results (p-value < 0.017). The same dependence for ACE-R (although not statistically significant) was observed in the group of patients without an ischemic stroke (confounding factor). In the case of the MMSE and more severe stenosis, negative results predominated, regardless of the confounding factor. There were no statistically significant differences in test results between carotid stenosis of 50-69%, 70-89%, and 90-99%. The results suggest that for assessing the early risk of cognitive impairment in patients with carotid atherosclerosis, the ACE-R appears more suitable than the MMSE.

Shear-Wave Elastography Enables Identification of Unstable Carotid Plaque.

Shear-wave elastography (SWE) is a novel ultrasound technique for quantifying tissue elasticity. The aim of this study was to identify differences in atherosclerotic plaque elasticity measured using SWE among individuals with symptomatic, asymptomatic progressive and asymptomatic stable carotid plaques. Consecutive patients from the Atherosclerotic Plaque Characteristics Associated with a Progression Rate of the Plaque and a Risk of Stroke in Patients with the Carotid Bifurcation Plaque Study were screened for this research. Neurosonography examination of carotid arteries was performed to identify plaque stenosis of ≥50% using B-mode ultrasound and SWE imaging to measure the mean, maximal and minimal elasticity. The set consisted of 97 participants-74 with asymptomatic stable stenosis, 12 with asymptomatic progressive stenosis and 11 with symptomatic stenosis. The mean elasticity in the asymptomatic stable plaque group was significantly higher than in the asymptomatic progressive (52.2 vs. 30.4 kPa; p < 0.001) and symptomatic (52.2 vs. 36.4 kPa; p = 0.033) plaque groups. No significant differences were found between asymptomatic progressive and symptomatic (p > 0.1) plaque groups. Asymptomatic stable, asymptomatic progressive and symptomatic plaques did not differ in echogenicity, calcifications, homogeneity, occurrence of ulcerated surface, or intra-plaque hemorrhage (p > 0.05 in all cases). SWE was a helpful modality for differentiating between stable and unstable atherosclerotic plaques in carotid arteries.

Comparison of Mechanical Thrombectomy with Contact Aspiration, Stent Retriever, and Combined Procedures in Patients with Large-Vessel Occlusion in Acute Ischemic Stroke.

BACKGROUND We investigated the properties and effects of 5 mechanical thrombectomy procedures in patients with acute ischemic stroke. The relationships between the type of procedure, the time required, the success of recanalization, and the clinical outcome were analyzed. MATERIAL AND METHODS This prospective comparative analysis included 500 patients with acute ischemic stroke and large-vessel occlusion. We compared contact aspiration thrombectomy (ADAPT, n=100), stent retriever first line (SRFL, n=196), the Solumbra technique (n=64), mechanical thrombectomy plus stent implantation (n=81), and a combined procedure (n=59). RESULTS ADAPT provided shorter procedure (P<0.001) and recanalization times (P<0.001) than the other techniques. Better clinical outcome was achieved for ischemia in the anterior circulation than ischemia in the posterior fossa (P<0.001). Compared to the other techniques, patients treated with ADAPT procedure had increased odds of achieving better mTICI scores (P=0.002) and clinical outcome (NIHSS) after 7 days (P=0.003); patients treated with SRFL had increased odds of achieving better long-term clinical status (3M-mRS=0-2; P=0.040). Patients with SRFL and intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) had increased odds of better clinical status (3M-mRS=0-2; P=0.031) and decreased odds of death (P=0.005) compared to patients with SRFL without IVT. The other treatment approaches had no additional effect of IVT. Patients with SRFL with a mothership transfer had increased odds of achieving favorable clinical outcome (3M-mRS) compared to SRFL with the drip-and-ship transfer paradigm (P=0.015). CONCLUSIONS Our results showed that ADAPT and SRFL provided significantly better outcomes compared to the other examined techniques. A mothership transfer and IVT administration contributed to the success of the SRFL approach.

The Role of von Willebrand Factor, ADAMTS13, and Cerebral Artery Thrombus Composition in Patient Outcome Following Mechanical Thrombectomy for Acute Ischemic Stroke.

BACKGROUND The aim of the study was to investigate the role of von Willebrand factor (vWF), the vWF-cleaving protease, ADAMTS13, the composition of thrombus, and patient outcome following mechanical cerebral artery thrombectomy in patients with acute ischemic stroke. MATERIAL AND METHODS A prospective cohort study included 131 patients with ischemic stroke (<6 hours) with or without intravenous thrombolysis. Interventional procedure parameters, hemocoagulation markers, vWF, ADAMTS13, and histological examination of the extracted thrombi were performed. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was used on hospital admission, after 24 hours, at day 7; the three-month modified Rankin Scale score was used. RESULTS Mechanical thrombectomy resulted in a Treatment in Cerebral Ischemia (TICI) score of 2-3, with recanalization in 89% of patients. Intravenous thrombolysis was used in 101 (78%). Patients with and without intravenous thrombolysis therapy had a good clinical outcome (score 0-2) in 47% of cases (P=0.459) using the three-month modified Rankin Scale. Patients with a National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score ≥15 had significantly increased vWF levels (P=0.003), and a significantly increased vWF: ADAMTS13 ratio (P=0.038) on hospital admission. Significant correlation coefficients were found for plasma vWF and thrombo-embolus vWF (r=0.32), platelet (r=0.24), and fibrin (r=0.26) levels. In the removed thrombus, vWF levels were significantly correlated with platelet count (r=0.53), CD31-positive cells (r=0.38), and fibrin (r=0.48). CONCLUSIONS In patients with acute ischemic stroke, mechanical cerebral artery thrombectomy resulted in a good clinical outcome in 47% of cases, with and without intravenous thrombolysis therapy.

RNF213 Rare Variants in Slovakian and Czech Moyamoya Disease Patients.

RNF213/Mysterin has been identified as a susceptibility gene for moyamoya disease, a cerebrovascular disease characterized by occlusive lesions in the circle of Willis. The p.R4810K (rs112735431) variant is a founder polymorphism that is strongly associated with moyamoya disease in East Asia. Many non-p.R4810K rare variants of RNF213 have been identified in white moyamoya disease patients, although the ethnic mutations have not been investigated in this population. In the present study, we screened for RNF213 variants in 19 Slovakian and Czech moyamoya disease patients. A total of 69 RNF213 coding exons were directly sequenced in 18 probands and one relative who suffered from moyamoya disease in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. We previously reported one proband harboring RNF213 p.D4013N. Results from the present study identified four rare variants other than p.D4013N (p.R4019C, p.E4042K, p.V4146A, and p.W4677L) in four of the patients. P.V4146A was determined to be a novel de novo mutation, and p.R4019C and p.E4042K were identified as double mutations inherited on the same allele. P.W4677L, found in two moyamoya disease patients and an unaffected subject in the same pedigree, was a rare single nucleotide polymorphism. Functional analysis showed that RNF213 p.D4013N, p.R4019C and p.V4146A-transfected human umbilical vein endothelial cells displayed significant lowered migration, and RNF213 p.V4146A significantly reduced tube formation, indicating that these are disease-causing mutations. Results from the present study identified RNF213 rare variants in 22.2% (4/18 probands) of Slovakian and Czech moyamoya disease patients, confirming that RNF213 may also be a major causative gene in a relative large population of white patients.

Laboratory-Based Markers as Predictors of Brain Infarction During Carotid Stenting: a Prospective Study.

AIM: New ischemic lesions in the brain can be detected in approximately 50% of patients undergoing carotid artery stenting (CAS). We wished to discover the laboratory-based predictors of new infarctions in the brain after CAS. METHODS: All consecutive patients with internal carotid artery stenosis of ≥70% with indication for CAS were enrolled in a prospective study for 16 months. All patients used dual antiplatelet therapy for ≥7 days before CAS. Neurologic examination and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain were undertaken before and at 24 h after CAS. Samples of venous blood were collected at ＜24 h before CAS for the evaluation of hematology, reticulocytes, coagulation markers (PT, APTT, Fbg, Clauss), vWF antigen, PAI-1 activity, PAI-1 polymorphism 4G/5G, and the multiplate (aspirin and clopidogrel) resistance test. Blood samples for the assessment of anti-Xa activity were collected during CAS. Differences in the values of laboratory markers between patients with and without new ischemic lesions of the brain on control MRI were evaluated. RESULTS: The cohort comprised 81 patients (53 males; mean age, 67.3±7.2 years). New ischemic infarctions in the brain on control MRI were found in 46 (56.8%) patients. Three of seven patients with resistance to aspirin or clopidogrel had a new ischemic infarction in the brain. No significant differences for particular markers were found between patients with and without an ischemic lesion in the brain. CONCLUSION: A high risk of a new ischemic infarction in the brain was detected in patients undergoing CAS, but a laboratory-based predictor of such an infarction could not be identified.

Comparison of brain vessel imaging from transtemporal and transcondylar approaches using contrast-enhanced transcranial color-coded duplex sonography and Virtual Navigator.

AIMS: The transcondylar approach is a new and used for detection of chronic cerebro-spinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI) and intracranial venous reflux in patients with multiple sclerosis. The aim of this study was to assess the ability of native and contrast enhanced (CE-) transcranial color-coded duplex sonography (TCCS) to detect flow and reflux in deep cerebral veins and intracranial venous sinuses from transcondylar and transtemporal approaches. METHODS: Brain magnetic resonance imaging and TCCS from transtemporal and transcondylar approaches using the new technology - Fusion Imaging - in 8 volunteers and 5 patients with multiple sclerosis. RESULTS: Using TCCS and CE-TCCS, the arteries of the circle of Willis could be detected from the transtemporal approach in 13/13 subjects in both examinations, while detection of the venous system was possible in 7/13 and 9/13 subjects, respectively. However, the arteries of the circle of Willis and venous system were detected through the transcondylar approach in only 5/13 (P=0.041) and 1/13 (P=0.031) subjects using TCCS, and in 12/13 (P=0.921) and 7/13 (P=0.687) subjects using CE-TCCS, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The results reveal that the TCCS transcondylar approach has serious limitations for the standard detection of intracranial venous reflux.

Inter-rater reliability of carotid atherosclerotic plaque quantification by 3-dimensional sonography.

OBJECTIVES: Embolization from atherosclerotic carotid plaques is the most common cause of ischemic stroke; therefore, identification of high-risk plaques by sonography is important. The aim of this study was to investigate the agreement between 2 investigators in the evaluation of sonographic parameters relating to plaque stability. METHODS: The following plaque parameters were assessed: echogenicity, homogeneity, surface, maximum content, and total volume. Serial 2-dimensional (2D) image sequences were obtained. Linear motion of the probe was automatically synchronized with the electrocardiogram. The edges of the plaque in each image were manually identified by the investigators. The total plaque volume was calculated after computer transformation of 2D images into a 3-dimensinoal (3D) format. Inter-rater reliability for echogenicity, homogeneity, and the surface was assessed by the weighted κ coefficient. Parametric values were tested by a paired t test. RESULTS: We enrolled 30 patients (22 male; mean age ± SD, 72 ± 13 years) in the study and evaluated 28 atherosclerotic plaques. Inter-rater agreement values were as follows: homogeneity, 96% (κ = 0.84; P < .001); surface, 90% (κ = 0.77; P < .001); and echogenicity, 86% (κ = 0.60; P < .001). The significance values for plaque content and volume measurement agreement were P = .311 and .312, respectively, and the correlation coefficient was 0.808. CONCLUSIONS: In our study, the agreement between 2 examiners in the evaluation of 2D and 3D sonographic parameters related to plaque stability was good to excellent. The sonographic measurement of plaque volume growth was the most accurate parameter; therefore, 3D sonography may be used for risk assessment of plaques in the future.

Outcome predictors in acute basilar artery occlusion.

OBJECTIVE: to identify predictors of good outcome in acute basilar artery occlusion (Bao). Background: acute ischemic stroke (aiS) caused by Bao is often associated with a severe and persistent neurological deficit and a high mortality rate. METHODS: the set consisted of 70 consecutive aiS patients (51 males; mean age 64.5 ± 14.5 years) with Bao. the role of the following factors was assessed: baseline characteristics, stroke risk factors, pre-event antithrombotic treatment, neurological deficit at time of treatment, estimated time to therapy procedure initiation, treatment method, recanalization rate, change in neurological deficit, post-treatment imaging findings. 30- and 90-day outcome was assessed using the modified rankin scale with a good outcome defined as a score of 0­ 3. RESULTS: the following statistically significant differences were found between patients with good versus poor outcomes: mean age (54.2 vs. 68.9 years; p=0.0001), presence of arterial hypertension (52.4% vs. 83.7%; p=0.015), diabetes mellitus (9.5% vs. 55.1%; p=0.0004) and severe stroke (14.3% vs. 65.3%; p=0.0002), neurological deficit at time of treatment (14.0 vs. 24.0 median of national institutes of health Stroke Scale [nihSS] points; p=0.001), successful recanalization (90.0% vs. 54.2%; p=0.005), change in neurological deficit (12.0 vs. 1.0 median difference of nihSS points; p=0.005). Stepwise binary logistic regression analysis identified age (or=0.932, 95% Ci=0.882­0.984; p=0.012), presence of diabetes mellitus (or=0.105, 95% Ci=0.018-0.618; p=0.013) and severe stroke (or=0.071, 95% Ci=0.013-0.383; p=0.002) as significant independent negative predictors of good outcome. CONCLUSIONS: in the present study, higher age, presence of diabetes mellitus and severe stroke were identified as significant independent negative predictors of good outcome.

A controlled trial of revascularization in acute stroke.

PURPOSE: To compare safety and utility of intraarterial revascularization with use of stents to no revascularization in patients who either failed to respond to intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) or have contraindications to IVT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The case-control study was approved by local ethics committees; all patients signed informed consent. One hundred thirty-one patients (74 men; mean age, 65.9 years ± 12.3; range, 25-86 years) with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion were enrolled; 75 underwent IVT. No further recanalization therapy was performed in 26 (35%) IVT-treated patients with MCA recanalization (group 1). Patients with IVT failure after 60 minutes were allocated to endovascular treatment (group 2A) or no further therapy (group 2B). Patients with contraindication to IVT were allocated to endovascular treatment within 8 hours since AIS onset (group 3A) or to no recanalization therapy (group 3B). Neurologic deficit at admission, MCA recanalization, symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (SICH), and 3-month clinical outcome were evaluated. Favorable clinical outcome was defined as modified Rankin scale score 0-2 at 3 months after stroke onset. Two-sided Mann-Whitney U test, independent samples t test, Fisher exact test, multivariate logistic regression analysis of baseline variables, and complete MCA recanalization for the prediction of favorable clinical outcome were used for statistical evaluation. RESULTS: Median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score at admission was 13.5, 16.0, 15.5, 15.0, and 16.0 in groups 1, 2A, 2B, 3A, and 3B, respectively (P > .05); SICH occurred in one of 26 (3.8%), one of 23 (4.3%), one of 26 (3.8%), one of 31 (3.2%), and one of 25 (4.0%) patients, respectively (P > .05). MCA recanalization after endovascular treatment was achieved in 50 of 54 (92.6%) patients. Favorable outcome was significantly different between groups 2A and 2B (10 of 23 [43.5%] and four of 26 [15.4%], respectively; P = .03) and groups 3A and 3B (14 of 31 [45.2%] and two of 25 [8.0%], respectively; P = .004) and was dependent on MCA recanalization (odds ratio, 5.55; P = .006). CONCLUSION: In this controlled trial, intraarterial revascularization with stents was an effective and safe-effective treatment option in patients with acute MCA occlusion with contraindication to IVT or after IVT failure.

Prior use of antiplatelet therapy can be associated with a higher chance for early recanalization of the occluded middle cerebral artery in acute stroke patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis.

BACKGROUND: The early recanalization (ER) of an occluded cerebral artery is important for clinical improvement in acute ischemic stroke. The aim of the study was to assess the possible association between the prior use of antiplatelets (AP) and ER of occluded middle cerebral artery (MCA) after intravenous thrombolysis (IVT). METHODS: In 146 consecutive acute ischemic stroke patients presenting with occluded MCA and treated with IVT, the ER and incidence of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (SICH) were compared according to the presence or absence of prior AP use. ER was assessed by transcranial Doppler or digital subtraction angiography within 2 h after the end of IVT. RESULTS: Fifty-six patients (28 males, mean age: 69.8 ± 9.8 years) used AP and 90 patients were AP naïve (51 males, mean age: 65.8 ± 12.5 years). Prior AP use was associated with a higher rate of early MCA recanalization (53.6 vs. 29.5% in AP naïve, p = 0.007) and was shown as a predictor of ER (OR: 2.30, 95% CI: 1.14-4.65; p = 0.020) in unadjusted analysis. No difference was found in the occurrence of SICH. CONCLUSION: Prior use of AP was associated with a higher rate of ER of occluded MCA, but with no increase of SICH after IVT.