Advanced Neuroimaging Preceding Intravenous Thrombolysis in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients Is Safe and Effective.

Advanced neuroimaging is one of the most important means that we have in the attempt to overcome time constraints and expand the use of intravenous thrombolysis (IVT). We assessed whether, and how, the prior use of advanced neuroimaging (AN), and more specifically CT/MR perfusion post-processed with RAPID software, regardless of time from symptoms onset, affected the outcomes of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients who received IVT. Methods. We retrospectively evaluated consecutive AIS patients who received intravenous thrombolysis monotherapy (without endovascular reperfusion) during a six-year period. The study population was divided into two groups according to the neuroimaging protocol used prior to IVT administration in AIS patients (AN+ vs. AN-). Safety outcomes included any intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) and 3-month mortality. Effectiveness outcomes included door-to-needle time, neurological status (NIHSS-score) on discharge, and functional status at three months assessed by the modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Results. The rate of IVT monotherapy increased from ten patients per year (n = 29) in the AN- to fifteen patients per year (n = 47) in the AN+ group. Although the onset-to-treatment time was longer in the AN+ cohort, the two groups did not differ in door-to-needle time, discharge NIHSS-score, symptomatic ICH, any ICH, 3-month favorable functional outcome (mRS-scores of 0-1), 3-month functional independence (mRS-scores of 0-2), distribution of 3-month mRS-scores, or 3-month mortality. Conclusion. Our pilot observational study showed that the incorporation of advanced neuroimaging in the acute stroke chain pathway in AIS patients increases the yield of IVT administration without affecting the effectiveness and safety of the treatment.

Real-world comparative safety and efficacy of tenecteplase versus alteplase in acute ischemic stroke patients with large vessel occlusion.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Tenecteplase has recently emerged as an alternative thrombolytic agent in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients with large vessel occlusion (LVO), possibly superior in achieving early reperfusion compared with alteplase. We aimed to compare the safety and efficacy of intravenous tenecteplase with intravenous alteplase for AIS patients with LVO in everyday clinical practice settings. METHODS: We prospectively evaluated patients with AIS due to LVO, treated with intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) with or without mechanical thrombectomy in two tertiary stroke centers. Patients were treated with standard-dose alteplase (0.9 mg/kg) or 0.25 mg/kg tenecteplase. Safety outcomes included prevalence of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) and mortality. Efficacy outcomes included averted thrombectomy, major neurological improvement at 24 h (defined as decrease in baseline NIHSS score of 8 points or greater) and functional status on discharge and on 3 months assessed by modified Rankin Scale (mRS). RESULTS: Nineteen AIS patients with LVO received tenecteplase and 39 received alteplase. We observed a non-significant higher rate of averted thrombectomies (32% versus 18%, p = 0.243) and a non-significant higher rate of sICH (16% versus 5%, p = 0.201) in the tenecteplase group. The rate of 24 h major neurological improvement was higher in the tenecteplase group (64% versus 33%, p = 0.046) but this was marginally attenuated in multivariable analyses (adjusted OR 10.22, 95% CI: 0.73-142.98; p = 0.084). Discharge mRS, 3-months mRS, and 3-month functional independence (mRS scores of 0-2) did not differ (p > 0.2) between the two groups. The rates of 3-month mortality (11% versus 18%, p = 0.703) were similar in the two groups. No independent association between thrombolytic agent and safety or efficacy outcomes emerged in multivariable regression analyses. CONCLUSION: The present pilot observational study highlights that AIS patients with LVO treated with 0.25 mg/kg bolus administration of tenecteplase had increased likelihood to achieve early neurological improvement compared with AIS patients treated with alteplase, but this association was attenuated after adjustment for potential confounders. There were no significant differences in 3-month functional or safety outcomes between the two groups. This preliminary real-world observation requires independent confirmation in larger, multicenter studies.

Ultrasound Assessment of Extracranial Carotids and Vertebral Arteries in Acute Cerebral Ischemia.

Assessing ischemic etiology and mechanism during the acute phase of an ischemic stroke is crucial in order to tailor and monitor appropriate treatment and determine prognosis. Cervical Duplex Ultrasound (CDU) has evolved since many years as an excellent screening tool for the evaluation of extracranial vasculature. CDU has the advantages of a low cost, easily applicable, bed side examination with high temporal and spatial resolution and without exposing the patients to any significant complications. It represents an easily repeatable test that can be performed in the emergency room as a first-line examination of cervical artery pathology. CDU provides well validated estimates of the type of the atherosclerotic plaque, the degree of stenosis, as well as structural and hemodynamic information directly about extracranial vessels (e.g., subclavian steal syndrome) and indirectly about intracranial circulation. CDU may also aid the diagnosis of non-atherosclerotic lesions of vessel walls including dissections, arteritis, carotid-jugular fistulas and fibromuscular dysplasias. The present narrative review outlines all potential applications of CDU in acute stroke management and also highlights its potential therapeutic implications.

Differences in Pain Perception Between Men and Women of Reproductive Age: A Laser-Evoked Potentials Study.

Objective: We investigated differences in pain perception between men and women of reproductive age by using Laser-Evoked Potentials (LEPs). Design, Setting, Subjects: Forty-four right-handed healthy volunteers (19 males/25 females), aged 30­40 years were studied. A CO2 laser generated three series of 10 thermal pulses (4.5 W) on the radial aspect of the dorsum of the left hand. A recording montage for late LEPs was used, and the potentials of each series of stimuli were averaged to calculate mean latency and amplitude for each subject. Volunteers scored verbally pain intensity (Numerical rating scale [NRS]; 0­10). Three series of 10 numbers were averaged for calculation of mean NRS score. Methods: LEP peak-to-peak amplitude, latency, and NRS scoring were compared between genders, and correlations between LEP amplitude/latency and NRS scores were assessed. Results: Data from 44 subjects were analyzed. LEP amplitudes differed significantly (P < 0.001) between men (24.2 ± 6.0 µV) and women (38.9 ± 15.28 µV), while no difference was found for latency (156.5 ± 8.6 versus 160.4 ± 19.8 ms, P = 0.42) or NRS score (2.6 ± 1.5 versus 2.4 ± 1.4, P = 0.63), respectively. Menstrual cycle phase did not influence LEP parameters (P = 0.59 for amplitude and P = 0.69 for latency) or NRS score (P = 0.95). No significant correlation was found between latency or amplitude and NRS score (P = 0.43 and P = 0.90, respectively). Conclusions: Our results demonstrate a significant gender-related difference in LEP amplitudes with lower mean values in men, while no difference was found in LEP latencies or in subjective pain ratings. Further research is required to clarify the clinical significance of the above experimental findings.

High-Resolution Vessel Wall Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Varicella-Zoster Virus Vasculitis.

Varicella-zoster virus vasculopathy is a rare but potentially treatable condition. Diagnosis has been based on angiography, brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and cerebrospinal fluid analysis. High-resolution vessel wall MRI may aid to the diagnosis by differentiating inflammation from other vessel wall pathologies. We present the characteristic MRI findings of this condition in a young patient presenting with ischemic stroke.

Effect of seasonal fluctuation of ambient temperature on fatigue in multiple sclerosis patients living in Attica, Greece.

Fatigue limits daily functioning of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and has a severe impact on their quality of life. Fatigue is considered a result of biological, psychological and environmental factors. This study investigated the effect of the ambient temperature on the levels of fatigue during each season of the year in MS patients and a healthy population. Forty-five MS patients and 42 healthy people matched for age and sex participated in the study. Measurement of fatigue was based on the Fatigue Severity Scale. Patients were asked which season they felt the worst fatigue. The measurements were conducted every 3 months in November, February, May and August on the last day of the month. MS patients (mean=4.20, standard error [SE]=0.22) exhibited a higher mean fatigue severity than the control group (mean=2.68, SE=0.22). MS patients did not present any significant differentiation in fatigue between seasons. However, the control group exhibited a tendency for fatigue severity to significantly increase in August, and actually experienced fatigue levels higher than the MS group during the last week of August. Significant fluctuation of fatigue was not observed in patients with MS. Patients may avoid worsening fatigue caused by climatic conditions with appropriate organization of their life routine.

Racial disparities in early mortality in 1,134 young patients with acute stroke.

We sought to investigate potential racial disparities in early outcomes of young individuals with stroke in an international multicenter study. We evaluated consecutive patients with first-ever acute stroke aged 18-45 years from prospective databases involving 12 tertiary-care stroke centers in North America (n = 2), Europe (n = 6), and Asia (n = 4). Demographics, vascular risk factors, stroke subtypes, pre-stroke functional status, stroke severity, blood pressure parameters, and serum glucose at hospital admission were documented. The outcome events of interest were 30-day mortality and 30-day favorable functional outcome (FFO) defined as modified-Rankin Scale score of 0-1. A total of 1,134 young adults (mean age 37.4 ± 7.0 years; 58.8 % men; 48.6 % Whites, 23.9 % Blacks, and 27.5 % Asians; median baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score 6 points, interquartile range 2-13) were included in the analyses. The 30-day stroke mortality and FFO rates differed (p < 0.001) across races. After adjusting for potential confounders, race was independently associated with 30-day mortality (p = 0.026) and 30-day FFO (p = 0.035). Blacks had a fourfold higher odds of 30-day stroke mortality in comparison to Asians (OR 4.00; 95 % CI 1.38-11.59; p = 0.011). Whites also had an increased likelihood of 30-day stroke mortality in comparison to Asians (OR 3.59; 95 % CI 1.28-10.03; p = 0.015). Blacks had a lower odds of 30-day FFO in comparison to Whites (OR 0.57; 95 % CI 0.35-0.91; p = 0.018). Racial disparities in early outcomes following first-ever stroke in young individuals appear to be independent of other known outcome predictor variables. Whites appear to have higher likelihood of 30-day FFO and Asians have lower odds of 30-day stroke mortality.

Prevalence of symptomatic intracranial atherosclerosis in Caucasians: a prospective, multicenter, transcranial Doppler study.

BACKGROUND: There are limited data available regarding symptomatic intracranial atherosclerosis (SIA) prevalence in Caucasians. We sought to investigate SIA prevalence among Caucasian patients hospitalized with acute cerebral ischemia (ACI) in a prospective, multicenter Transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD) study. METHODS: Consecutive patients with ACI were prospectively evaluated with TCD over a 24-month-period. The previously validated criteria of SONIA trial were used for detection of >50% intracranial stenosis with TCD. Brain angiography was performed to confirm the diagnosis in cases with abnormal TCD findings. SIA was diagnosed when there was evidence of a cerebral infarction in the territory of the stenotic artery (identified by TCD and confirmed by Magnetic resonance angiography [MRA]/Computed tomography angiography [CTA]). RESULTS: A total of 467 consecutive patients with ACI (60.4% men, mean age 58 ± 14 years) were evaluated. SIA was documented in 43 patients (9.2%; 95%CI: 6.9%-12.2%). The most common SIA location was M1MCA (34.9%) followed by TICA (18.8%). Diabetes mellitus (OR: 4.25, 95%CI: 2.18-8.26; P < .001) and hypertension (OR: 2.41, 95%CI: 1.02-5.67; P = .045) were independently associated with SIA on multivariate models adjusting for potential confounders. CONCLUSIONS: SIA was identified in almost 10% of patients admitted with symptoms of ACI. These preliminary findings support further collaborative initiatives among stroke physicians to increase the yield of SIA detection in Caucasian patients with ACI.

Validity and reliability of the FSS in Greek MS patients.

OBJECTIVES: The study provided validity and reliability evidence of the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) in Greek patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The FSS was administered to 72 MS patients, without co morbid fatigue and 75 matched paired controls with respect to gender and age. Both groups responded to the FSS, SF-36v2, BDI-II and a demographic questionnaire on two time points separated by a 1-week interval. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis was performed to test construct validity, concurrent and divergent validity, internal and test-retest reliability were also examined. RESULTS: Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, intercorrelations with BDI-II (r = 0.552, p < 0.01) and SF-36v2 vitality (r = -0.715, p < 0.01) and physical functioning (r = -0.673, p < 0.01) subscales, and differences between patients and non patients (t (145) = 6.007, p < 0.001), revealed sufficient construct, concurrent and divergent validity evidence. The factor analysis demonstrated a unidimensional structure Cronbach alpha (0.953) and ICC (0.889) was high, indicating that the responses of our sample were internally consistent and stable across time. CONCLUSION: The Greek version of FSS is valid and reliable and may be used by clinicians and researchers to assess fatigue of Greek MS patients.

Real-time validation of transcranial Doppler criteria in assessing recanalization during intra-arterial procedures for acute ischemic stroke: an international, multicenter study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We sought to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of ultrasound criteria for recanalization during real-time transcranial Doppler monitoring of intra-arterial reperfusion procedures in acute ischemic stroke patients in an international, multicenter study. METHODS: Consecutive acute ischemic stroke patients with proximal intracranial occlusions underwent intra-arterial reperfusion procedures with simultaneous real-time transcranial Doppler monitoring at 3 tertiary-care stroke centers. Residual flow signals at the site of angiographically confirmed occlusions were monitored at a constant transtemporal insonation angle using a standard head-frame. Recanalization was assessed simultaneously by digital subtraction angiography and ultrasound using thrombolysis in myocardial infarction and thrombolysis in brain ischemia (TIBI) criteria, respectively. Independent readers blinded to digital subtraction angiography performed validation of TIBI flow grades. The interrater reliability for assessment of TIBI grades was investigated. RESULTS: We evaluated time-linked real-time digital subtraction angiography transcranial Doppler images from 96 diagnostic digital subtraction angiography runs during intra-arterial reperfusion procedures in 62 acute ischemic stroke patients (mean age, 59 ± 17 years; 58% men; median baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, 18 [interquartile range 12-21]; median time from symptom onset to intra-arterial procedure initiation, 240 minutes [interquartile range 163-308]). The interrater reliability for evaluation of TIBI grades and assessment of recanalization was good (Cohen κ: 0.838 and 0.874, respectively; P<0.001). Compared with angiography, transcranial Doppler had the following accuracy parameters for detection of complete recanalization (TIBI 4 and 5 versus thrombolysis in myocardial infarction 3, flow grades): sensitivity, 88% (95% confidence interval, 72%-96%); specificity, 89% (79%-95%); positive predictive value, 81% (65%-91%); negative predictive value, 93% (84%-98%); and overall accuracy 89% (80%-94%). CONCLUSIONS: At laboratories with high-interrater reliability, TIBI criteria can accurately predict brain recanalization in real time as compared with thrombolysis in myocardial infarction angiographic scores.

Subclinical autonomic dysfunction in patients with ß-thalassemia.

We electrophysiologically evaluated the autonomic function (AF) in a consecutive series of patients with beta-thalassemia and in normal individuals. Six quantitative autonomic function tests (AFTs) were used: tilt test, hand grip test and sympathetic skin response for sympathetic function; R-R interval, inspiration-expiration difference and 30/15 ratio for parasympathetic function. The prevalence of impaired AF was higher in beta-thalassemia patients (13%, n = 5) than in control subjects (0%, n = 0; p = 0.026). Subclinical autonomic dysfunction appeared to be more prevalent in beta-thalassemia patients compared to controls in our series. Further independent validation of this finding is required in larger cohorts of beta-thalassemia patients.

Cerebrovascular reacivity assessment in patients with carotid artery disease: a combined TCD and NIRS study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Transcranial Doppler (TCD) and near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) are two noninvasive diagnostic tools that have been shown to evaluate cerebral vasomotor reactivity by measuring changes in mean cerebral blood flow velocities (MCBFV) of proximal intracranial arteries and absolute brain-tissue oxygen-saturation (TOS) in microcirculation, respectively, during hemodynamic challenge. We evaluated the potential correlation between TCD and NIRS measurements of vasomotor reactivity (VMR) in patients with carotid artery disease (CARAD). METHODS: Consecutive patients (n = 24) with CARAD underwent simultaneously TCD and NIRS examinations during voluntary breath-holding (BH). MCBFV and TOS values were recorded at baseline (BAS) and at the end of BH, while BH duration (DBH) was documented. VMR was quantified by means of TCD-BHI (Breath-holding Index: [MCBFV(BH) - MCBFV(BAS)]× 100/MCBFV(BAS)/DBH) and NIRS-BHI ([TOS(BH) - TOS(BAS)]× 100/ TOS(BAS)/DBH). RESULTS: TCD-BHI correlated positively with NIRS-BHI in the affected side (r = .538, P = .007). A stronger correlation between TCD-BHI and NIRS-BHI was documented in the nonaffected side (r = .768, P< .001). After adjusting for demographic characteristics, stroke risk factors and symptomatic status NIRS-BHI was linearly and independently associated with TCD-BHI both in the affected (ß:+ .813, P = .001) and unaffected (ß:+ .823, P < .001) side. CONCLUSIONS: Circulatory assessment of VMR in proximal cerebral vessels by TCD correlates positively to functional measurements of VMR in microcirculation by NIRS in CARAD patients.

Velocity criteria for intracranial stenosis revisited: an international multicenter study of transcranial Doppler and digital subtraction angiography.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Intracranial atherosclerotic disease is associated with a high risk of stroke recurrence. We aimed to determine accuracy of transcranial Doppler screening at laboratories that share the same standardized scanning protocol. METHODS: Patients with symptoms of cerebral ischemia were prospectively studied. Stroke Outcomes and Neuroimaging of Intracranial Atherosclerosis (SONIA) criteria were used for identification of ≥50% stenosis. We determined velocity cutoffs for ≥70% stenosis on digital subtraction angiography by Warfarin-Aspirin Symptomatic Intracranial Disease criteria and evaluated novel stenotic/prestenotic ratio and low-velocity criteria. RESULTS: A total of 102 patients with intracranial atherosclerotic disease (age 57±13 years; 72% men; median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale 3, interquartile range 6) provided 690 transcranial Doppler/digital subtraction angiography vessel pairs. On digital subtraction angiography, ≥50% stenosis was found in 97 and ≥70% stenosis in 62 arteries. Predictive values for transcranial Doppler SONIA criteria were similar (P>0.9) between middle cerebral artery (sensitivity 78%, specificity 93%, positive predictive value 73%, negative predictive value 94%, and overall accuracy 90%) and vertebral artery/basilar artery (69%, 98%, 88%, 93%, and 92%). As a single velocity criterion, most sensitive mean flow velocity thresholds for ≥70% stenosis were: middle cerebral artery>120 cm/s (71%) and vertebral artery/basilar artery>110 cm/s (55%). Optimal combined criteria for ≥70% stenosis were: middle cerebral artery>120 cm/s, or stenotic/prestenotic ratio≥3, or low velocity (sensitivity 91%, specificity 80%, receiver operating characteristic 0.858), and vertebral artery/basilar artery>110 cm/s or stenotic/prestenotic ratio≥3 (60%, 95%, 0.769, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: At laboratories with a standardized scanning protocol, SONIA mean flow velocity criteria remain reliably predictive of ≥50% stenosis. Novel velocity/ratio criteria for ≥70% stenosis increased sensitivity and showed good agreement with invasive angiography.

Safety and outcomes of intravenous thrombolysis in stroke mimics: a 6-year, single-care center study and a pooled analysis of reported series.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Efforts to increase the availability and shorten the time delivery of intravenous thrombolysis in patients with acute ischemic stroke carry the potential for tissue plasminogen activator administration in patients with diseases other than stroke, that is, stroke mimics (SMs). We aimed to determine safety and to describe outcomes of intravenous thrombolysis in SM. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed stroke registry data of consecutive acute ischemic stroke admissions treated with intravenous thrombolysis over a 6-year-period. The admission National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, vascular risk factors, ischemic lesions on brain MRI (routinely performed as part of diagnostic work-up), and discharge modified Rankin Scale scores were documented. Initial stroke diagnosis in the emergency department was compared with final discharge diagnosis. SM diagnosis was based on the absence of ischemic lesions on diffusion-weighted imaging sequences in addition to an alternate discharge diagnosis. Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage was defined as brain imaging evidence of intracranial hemorrhage with clinical worsening by National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score increase of ≥4 points. RESULTS: Intravenous thrombolysis was administered in 539 patients with acute ischemic stroke (55% men; mean age, 66 ± 15 years). Misdiagnosis of acute ischemic stroke was documented in 56 cases (10.4%; 95% CI, 7.9% to 13.3%). Conversion disorder (26.8%), complicated migraine (19.6%), and seizures (19.6%) were the 3 most common final diagnoses in SM. SMs were younger (mean age, 56 ± 13 years) and had milder baseline stroke severity (median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, 6; interquartile range, 4) compared with patients with confirmed acute ischemic stroke (mean age, 67 ± 14 years; median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale, 8; interquartile range, 10; P<0.001). There was no case of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage in SMs (0%; 95% CI, 0% to 5.5%); 96% of SMs were functionally independent at hospital discharge (modified Rankin Scale, 0 to 1). CONCLUSIONS: Our single-center data indicate favorable safety and outcomes of intravenous thrombolysis administered to SM.

Validity of HAT score for predicting symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage in acute stroke patients with proximal occlusions: data from randomized trials of sonothrombolysis.

BACKGROUND: The Hemorrhage after Thrombolysis (HAT) score has recently been introduced as a practical scale for risk stratification of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) in patients receiving intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). We aimed to externally validate and evaluate the predictive ability of the HAT score in patients with proximal arterial occlusions (PAO) enrolled into randomized clinical trials of sonothrombolysis. METHODS: The HAT score (range 0, minimum risk, to 5, maximum risk) was retrospectively calculated for each patient using clinical trial data (baseline NIHSS, extent of hypodensity on CT, history of diabetes mellitus and serum glucose). Symptomatic ICH (sICH) was defined as imaging evidence of ICH with clinical worsening (NIHSS ≥ 4) within 72 h from stroke onset. The predictive ability of the HAT score for sICH and any ICH (both asymptomatic and symptomatic) was calculated using c statistics. RESULTS: A total of 161 tPA-treated patients (mean age 68 ± 13 years, 58% men, median NIHSS 16, interquartile range 9) with PAO were randomized in TUCSON (n = 35) and CLOTBUST (n = 126). sICH occurred in 9 (5.6%) cases, and 6 had asymptomatic ICH. The rates of sICH for the corresponding HAT scores were: HAT 0-1: 3%; 2: 9%; 3: 14%; 4-5: 14%. The risk of sICH (c statistic 0.72, 95% CI: 0.58-0.86; p = 0.027) and any ICH (c statistic 0.70, 95% CI: 0.58-0.82; p = 0.011) increased with higher HAT scores. Higher HAT scores were also associated with higher likelihood of persisting occlusion (c statistic 0.63, 95% CI: 0.54-0.72; p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: The HAT score has reasonable external validity for predicting the risk of sICH following intravenous thrombolysis in patients with PAO. Moreover, higher HAT scores appear to be associated with higher likelihood of persisting occlusion in tPA-treated patients.

Spontaneous internal carotid artery dissection: an uncommon cause of recurrent postpartum headache.

Postpartum spontaneous cervicocephalic artery dissection is an uncommon, poorly understood condition following pregnancy. We report a case of a 32-year-old woman with no history of trauma, chiropractic manipulation, connective tissue disorder, or previous headache who developed a mild, unilateral headache 7 days after the uneventful delivery of her third child (no general or neuraxial anesthesia was delivered). Seven days latter she presented to our emergency department complaining of recurrent episodes of right-sided headache coupled with a transient episode of sensory deficits in her left lower limb. Brain magnetic resonance imaging disclosed small infarctions in the internal watershed distribution of right internal carotid artery (ICA). Carotid artery dissection was diagnosed using DSA and T1 FAT-SAT sequences for the depiction of intramural hematoma. The patient was placed under oral anticoagulation and remained asymptomatic during a follow-up period of 6 months. The present case report highlights that cervicocephalic artery dissection is a condition that should be looked for in women with persisting or remitting unilateral headache following childbirth.

Safety of transcranial Doppler 'bubble study' for identification of right to left shunts: an international multicentre study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: A recent retrospective study using an online list service established by the American Academy of Neurology has suggested that ischaemic cerebrovascular events may occur in patients who undergo 'bubble studies' (BS) with either transcranial Doppler (TCD) or transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE). The safety of TCD-BS for right to left shunt (RLS) identification was evaluated prospectively in an international multicentre study. METHODS: Consecutive patients with cerebral ischaemia (ischaemic stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA)) were screened for potential ischaemic cerebrovascular events following injection of microbubbles during TCD-BS for identification of RLS at three tertiary care stroke centres. TCD-BS was performed according to the standardised International Consensus Protocol. TOE-BS was performed in selected cases for confirmation of TCD-BS. RESULTS: 508 patients hospitalised with acute cerebral ischaemia (mean age 46±12 years, 59% men; 63% ischaemic stroke, 37% TIA) were investigated with TCD-BS within 1 week of ictus. RLS was identified in 151 cases (30%). TOE-BS was performed in 101 out of 151 patients with RLS identified on TCD-BS (67%). It was positive in 99 patients (98%). The rate of ischaemic cerebrovascular complications during or after TCD-BS was 0% (95% CI by the adjusted Wald METHOD: 0-0.6%). Structural cardiac abnormalities were identified in 38 patients, including atrial septal aneurysm (n=23), tetralogy of Fallot (n=1), intracardiac thrombus (n=2), ventricular septal defect (n=3) and atrial myxoma (n=1). CONCLUSION: TCD-BS is a safe screening test for identification of RLS, independent of the presence of cardiac structural abnormalities.