Prognostic Value of Circulating Microvesicle Subpopulations in Ischemic Stroke and TIA.

Platelet microvesicles (PMV) have previously been found elevated in acute ischemic stroke (IS) and could be biomarkers for risk of recurrence. PMV surface antigens such as P-selectin and phosphatidylserine (PS) reflect platelet activation and procoagulance. Tissue factor-positive microvesicles (TF+MV) are considered procoagulant, in particular if co-expressing PS. We enumerated MV subpopulations with these surface antigens in a cohort of 211 patients with primarily non-cardioembolic IS or transient ischemic attack (TIA) and investigated their association with long-term outcome. MV concentrations were determined by flow cytometry in the acute and convalescent phase. Primary outcome was a composite of fatal and non-fatal recurrent IS or myocardial infarction. Secondary outcomes were recurrent IS and all-cause mortality. Outcome events were obtained from Swedish registers during a follow-up of 1100 patient years. Concentrations of PS-positive and PS-negative MV populations were elevated in patients compared with healthy controls in both the acute and convalescent phase. PS+TF+PMV displayed pronounced elevations, median fold change 77 in the acute phase (p < 0.0001) but were not associated with outcome, neither were PS+P-selectin+PMV. The only subpopulation positively associated with primary outcome was PS-TF+PMV, with adjusted hazard ratio of 1.86 (1.04-3.31, p = 0.036) by Cox regression. Unexpectedly, several MV subpopulations tended to be associated with reduced risk of poor long-term outcome. Our results suggest that PS+TF+PMV may be a promising marker for cerebral ischemia, and that the in vivo generation of PS-MV after IS/TIA warrants further study. Future MV studies should ideally enumerate PS+ and PS-MV subpopulations separately.

Health care professionals' experiences and enactment of person-centered care at a multidisciplinary outpatient specialty clinic.

INTRODUCTION: Person-centered care (PCC) appears particularly suitable for patients with complex diseases and in multidisciplinary care. However, previous research tends to focus on each profession and condition separately. PURPOSE: We studied how health care professionals (HCPs) understand PCC, and whether their clinical practice is aligned with their theoretical understanding, when starting clinical practice at a novel multidisciplinary clinic. METHODS: In total, 16 semi-structured interviews with HCPs and 31 non-participatory observations of outpatient meetings and other activities at the clinic such as team meetings were conducted at a multidisciplinary, integrated outpatient clinic in Sweden. All patients had simultaneous diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease and established cardiovascular disease. The clinic employed a PCC approach. Data were analyzed using an inductive thematic approach. RESULTS: Two key findings emerged. First, PCC requires a holistic view of the patient at all times during care, with everything focused on the patient. This requires that the HCPs know the patient well enough as an individual to be able to tailor the care together with them. Second, working with a PCC philosophy leads to transformed roles for HCPs in patient meetings, with more active involvement by the patient and often also their next of kin. The observations, in comparison with the interviews, showed that not all HCPs applied their views on PCC in patient meetings. Observations showed that some patient meetings were less person-centered than others, potentially due to stress or lack of time. CONCLUSION: PCC require HCPs to have a holistic view of the patients and a deeper understanding of their situation, as individuals. Working with PCC also leads to a more coaching, supportive role of the HCPs.

NETosis promotes cancer-associated arterial microthrombosis presenting as ischemic stroke with troponin elevation.

INTRODUCTION: Large elevations of high sensitive Troponin T (hsTnT) in ischemic stroke patients is associated with a poor outcome. In a pilot study we found a high prevalence of malignancies among these patients. Since neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) have been linked to cancer-associated thrombosis, we hypothesized that the concomitant cerebral and myocardial ischemia could be the result of a NET-induced hypercoagulable state. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical assessments, plasma analyses and autopsies with histopathology (in cases of in-hospital mortality) were performed on ischemic stroke patients with high elevations of hsTnT (N=12) and normal hsTnT (N=19). RESULTS: Patients with hsTnT elevation had an unexpectedly higher prevalence of cancer (p=0.002), half of which were diagnosed post-mortem. Autopsies of these patients revealed widespread myocardial, cerebral and pulmonary microthrombosis with H3Cit in thrombi. A pro-coagulant state and an increase of the NET specific marker citrullinated histone H3 (H3Cit) was found in plasma of patients with elevated hsTnT compared to patients with normal levels (p<0.001). Plasma analyses in cancer patients showed even higher H3Cit levels (p<0.001), and an increase in granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, known to prime neutrophils towards NETosis. H3Cit correlated positively with thrombin-antithrombin complex (p=0.004) and soluble P-selectin (p<0.001), further linking NETosis to the pro-thrombotic state. CONCLUSIONS: The high prevalence of known or occult cancer in our study suggests that cancer-associated arterial microthrombosis may be underestimated. By linking the thrombosis to NETs, we suggest markers of NETosis that could aid in revealing cancer in arterial microthrombosis as well as arterial microthrombosis in cancer.

Clopidogrel Resistance after Minor Ischemic Stroke or Transient Ischemic Attack is Associated with Radiological Cerebral Small-Vessel Disease.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to compare nonresponders (NR) and responders (R) to clopidogrel with respect to presence of microvascular and macrovascular pathology in a cohort of patients with recent minor ischemic stroke (IS) or transient ischemic attack (TIA). METHODS: Seventy-two patients treated with clopidogrel after IS or TIA were evaluated 1 month after onset. Platelet aggregation was measured by multiple electrode aggregometry (Multiplate). Nonresponse was defined according to recent consensus. The degree of cerebral small-vessel disease (cSVD) was evaluated on computed tomography scans of the brain using Fazekas scale for white matter changes. Carotid atherosclerosis was evaluated by ultrasound or computed tomography/magnetic resonance angiography. RESULTS: Twenty-two percent of patients were NR. Moderate to extensive cSVD was more common for NR than R, 56% versus 25%, odds ratio 3.9 (1.2-12), P = .03. Correspondingly, 39% of patients with cSVD were NR versus 14% of patients with no or mild cSVD. No differences were found between NR and R in prevalence or severity of carotid atherosclerosis. NR had higher platelet aggregation response than R after stimulation with arachidonic acid or thrombin receptor-activating peptide, indicating a general platelet hyperreactivity. In a univariate analysis, hypertension, previous IS, glucose intolerance, pulse pressure above median, and presence of moderate to extensive cSVD were associated with the NR phenotype. CONCLUSIONS: Nonresponsiveness to clopidogrel after minor IS or TIA is associated with radiological cSVD but not with carotid atherosclerosis. PRACTICE/IMPLICATIONS: Measurement of platelet function is warranted in patients with cSVD. Larger studies on alternative or tailored antiplatelet treatment for these patients should be initiated.

Elevated Troponin Levels in Acute Stroke Patients Predict Long-term Mortality.

BACKGROUND: Elevated plasma levels of troponin in acute stroke patients are common and have in several studies been shown to predict in-hospital and short-term mortality. Little is, however, known about the long-term prognosis of these patients. The aim of this study was to determine patient characteristics and 5-year mortality in patients with acute stroke and troponin elevation on admission. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study of all consecutive patients with acute stroke and a plasma troponin I (TnI) analyzed on admission to Danderyd Hospital between January 1, 2005, and January 1, 2006 (n = 247). Patient characteristics were obtained from the Swedish National Stroke Register, Riksstroke, as well as hospital records. Mortality data were obtained from the Swedish Cause of Death Register. RESULTS: There were 133 patients (54%) with TnI less than .03 µg/L (normal), 74 patients (30%) with TnI .03-.11 µg/L (low elevation), and 40 patients (16%) with TnI greater than .11 µg/L (high elevation). TnI elevations were associated with a higher age, prior ischemic stroke, chronic heart failure, renal insufficiency, stroke severity, and ST segment elevation or depression on admission. The rate of hyperlipidemia decreased with increasing TnI. Adjusted for age and comorbidity, elevated TnI values on admission had a significantly and sustained increased mortality over the 5-year follow-up, with a hazard ratio of 1.90 (95% confidence interval, 1.33-2.70). CONCLUSIONS: Troponin elevation in patients with acute stroke, even when adjusted for several possible confounders, is associated with an almost 2-fold increased risk of 5-year mortality.

Trousseau's Syndrome, a Previously Unrecognized Condition in Acute Ischemic Stroke Associated With Myocardial Injury.

Trousseau's syndrome is a well-known malignancy associated hypercoagulative state leading to venous or arterial thrombosis. The pathophysiology is however poorly understood, although multiple mechanisms are believed to be involved. We report a case of Trousseau's syndrome resulting in concomitant cerebral and myocardial microthrombosis, presenting with acute ischemic stroke and markedly elevated plasma troponin T levels suggesting myocardial injury. Without any previous medical history, the patient developed multiple cerebral infarctions and died within 11 days of admission. The patient was postmortem diagnosed with an advanced metastatic adenocarcinoma of the prostate with disseminated cerebral, pulmonary, and myocardial microthrombosis. Further analyses revealed, to the best of our knowledge for the first time in stroke patients, circulating microvesicles positive for the epithelial tumor marker CK18 and citrullinated histone H3 in thrombi, markers of the recently described cancer-associated procoagulant DNA-based neutrophil extracellular traps. We also found tissue factor, the main in vivo initiator of coagulation, both in thrombi and in metastases. Troponin elevation in acute ischemic stroke is common and has repeatedly been associated with an increased risk of mortality. The underlying pathophysiology is however not fully clarified, although a number of possible explanations have been proposed. We now suggest that unexplainable high levels of troponin in acute ischemic stroke deserve special attention in terms of possible occult malignancy.

Glucose intolerance and insulin resistance as predictors of low platelet response to clopidogrel in patients with minor ischemic stroke or TIA.

The relation between high on-treatment platelet reactivity (HPR), and the level of glucose intolerance and insulin resistance (IR) was studied in clopidogrel-treated patients with minor ischemic stroke or TIA. The cohort consisted of 66 patients, 11 of which had known type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Platelet aggregation in whole blood (Multiplate™) and metabolic variables were measured 1 month after acute onset of neurological symptoms. Glucose tolerance was measured by Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT). IR was estimated by homeostasis model assessment HOMA-IR. Patients were categorized as "responders" (R) or "non-responders" (NR) to clopidogrel according to an established cut-off in platelet aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate (ADP). In total, 14/66 (21%) patients were NR. Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), impaired fasting glucose (IFG) or DM was seen in 13/14 NR (93%), while for R this was the case in 25/52 (48%), p = 0.001. The percentage of NR was 33% in patients with DM and 35% in patients with IGT or IFG. In the group with normal glucose tolerance (NGT) the percentage of NR was low, 4% (1/28). Fasting plasma glucose (f-PG) was higher for NR than for R, 6.0 (5.5-6.7) mM vs. 5.3 (5.0-6.0) mM, p = 0.023. Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) did not differ between NR and R. NR also had higher arachidonic acid-induced platelet aggregation than R, and a tendency towards higher aggregation induced by thrombin receptor agonist peptide (TRAP), indicating that HPR reflects a global platelet hyper-reactivity. HOMA-IR was calculated for 52 of the patients above without known diabetes, 9 of which were NR (17%). NR were significantly more insulin resistant than R, with median HOMA-IR 4.5 (3.0-7.4) compared to 2.1 (1.5-3.2) for R, p = 0.001. HOMA-IR and fasting plasma insulin were the only metabolic variables with significant relationships to ADP-induced platelet aggregation. The results suggest that HPR develops in the pre-diabetic phase. A metabolic disturbance with glucose intolerance and/or high level of IR was a pre-requisite for HPR in the tested cohort. Conversely, normal glucose tolerance combined with normal or mildly elevated HOMA-IR excluded HPR. NR are likely to constitute a high-risk group among patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease. Measurement of f-PG or HbA1c is insufficient to identify NR, while OGTT and HOMA-IR are more predictive.

Thrombin generation in acute cardioembolic and non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke.

OBJECTIVE: Increased thrombin generation, as measured by the Calibrated Automated Thrombogram (CAT), has recently been reported to predict ischemic stroke, especially stroke with a cardioembolic source. However, there are few studies on thrombin generation using CAT in patients with manifest ischemic stroke, particularly in patients with cardioembolic stroke not yet on anticoagulation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Therefore, a prospective cohort study of 205 stroke patients > 45 years of age was performed. They were recruited during their hospital stay or shortly thereafter. Inclusion criteria were ischemic stroke or TIA within two weeks and no atrial fibrillation (AF) in the history or at inclusion. Patients received a thumb ECG device in order to detect silent AF. Blood samples were collected at inclusion and after 1 month. Thrombin generation in plasma after addition of tissue factor was assessed in patients and in healthy controls. RESULTS: Mean age of patients was 72 ± 7 years and 43% were females. Peak thrombin concentrations were variable among stroke patients but overall significantly higher at both time points (p < 0.0001) compared to controls, and tended to be highest in patients in whom paroxysmal atrial fibrillation was subsequently documented. CONCLUSION: Thrombin generation in patients with acute cardioembolic and non-cardioembolic schemic stroke/TIA is variable but overall higher compared to healthy subjects. The long-term prognostic value of thrombin generation in patients with a recent ischemic stroke deserves further investigation.

Higher prehospital priority level of stroke improves thrombolysis frequency and time to stroke unit: the Hyper Acute STroke Alarm (HASTA) study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Early initiated treatment of stroke increases the chances of a good recovery. This randomized controlled study evaluates how an increased priority level for patients with stroke, from level 2 to 1, from the Emergency Medical Communication Center influences thrombolysis frequency, time to stroke unit, and whether other medical emergencies reported negative consequences. METHODS: Patients aged 18 to 85 years in Stockholm, Sweden, with symptoms of stroke within 6 hours were randomized from the Emergency Medical Communication Center or emergency medical services to an intervention group, priority level 1, immediate call of an ambulance, or to a control group with standard priority level, that is, priority level 2 (within 30 minutes). Before study start, an educational program on identification of stroke and importance of early initiated treatment was directed to all medical dispatchers and ambulance and emergency department personnel. RESULTS: During 2008, 942 patients were randomized of which 53% (n=496) had a final stroke/transient ischemic attack diagnosis. Patients in the Emergency Medical Communication Center randomized intervention group reached the stroke unit 26 minutes earlier than the control group (P<0.001) after the emergency call. Thrombolysis was given to 24% of the patients in the intervention group compared with 10% of the control subjects (P<0.001). The higher priority level showed no negative effect on other critical ill patients requiring priority level 1 prehospital attention. CONCLUSIONS: This randomized study shows negligible harm to other medical emergencies, a significant increase in thrombolysis frequency, and a shorter time to the stroke unit for patients with stroke upgraded to priority level 1 from the Emergency Medical Communication Center and through the acute chain of stroke care.

Improved screening for silent atrial fibrillation after ischaemic stroke.

OBJECTIVES: To what extent silent paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) is present in ischaemic stroke patients has not been established. We hypothesized that brief intermittent long-term electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings at regular time intervals are more effective than short-term continuous ECG monitoring in detecting silent AF episodes. METHODS AND RESULTS: Consecutive patients who had suffered an ischaemic stroke/transient ischaemic attack (TIA) and were without known AF underwent a 24 h continuous ECG recording and performed 10 s rhythm registrations using a hand-held ECG recorder twice daily for 30 days and when arrhythmia symptoms occured. Two hundred and forty-nine stroke patients were included. Mean National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score was 0.9 (0-10). In total, 17 patients were diagnosed with AF. One hundred and eight AF episodes were diagnosed in 15 patients using intermittent recording, out of which 22% where unscheduled symptom triggered episodes. In three patients AF was diagnosed with both methods and in two patients AF was detected exclusively with 24 h Holter monitoring. A significant difference in favour of the hand-held ECG was shown between the two methods (P = 0.013). The total prevalence of AF was 6.8% and increased to 11.8% in patients ≥75 years. No AF was found in patients <65 years. CONCLUSIONS: Prolonged brief intermittent arrhythmia screening substantially improves the detection of silent paroxysmal AF in patients with a recent ischaemic stroke/TIA, and thus facilitates the detection of patients who should receive oral anticoagulant treatment.

Eating difficulties among patients 3 months after stroke in relation to the acute phase.

AIM: This paper is a report of a study comparing eating difficulties among patients 3 months after stroke in relation to the acute phase. BACKGROUND: There is limited knowledge of patients with eating problems early after stroke, hence the progress of eating abilities needs to be further explored. METHOD: From March 2007 to June 2008 36 stroke patients with 2-7 eating difficulties or problems with reduced alertness or swallowing in the acute phase were included. Eating difficulties were detected using a structured protocol of observation of meals. In addition, stroke severity (National Institute of Health Stroke Scale), functional status (Barthel Index), unilateral neglect (Line Bisection test and Letter Cancellation test), psychological well-being (The Well-being Questionnaire-12), nutritional status (Mini Nutritional Assessment) and oral status (Revised Oral Assessment Guide) were assessed. RESULTS: There were 36 participants (58% female) with a median age of 74·5 years. The proportion of eating difficulties decreased significantly from the acute phase to the 3-month follow-up in 'sitting position', 'managing food on the plate' and 'manipulating food in the mouth' and increased regarding inadequate food consumption. Improvements were shown at 3 months in stroke severity, functional status, nutritional status and neglect. Oral status and psychological well-being remained unchanged. CONCLUSION: The majority of eating problems persisted 3 months after stroke despite a marked improvement in most of the physical functions. The unchanged psychological well-being and sustained problems with food consumption indicate that factors other than physical function should be taken into account regarding eating difficulties poststroke.

Rivermead mobility index can be used to predict length of stay for elderly persons, 5 days after stroke onset.

BACKGROUND: Recovery after acute stroke is expected to continue for a long time but is most rapid during the first few days after onset. Because the cost of hospital care is rising constantly, there is increasing pressure from various administrative bodies to reduce the duration of hospital stay. To select the optimal level of care for elderly patients with stroke-related disability, it is important to be aware of adequate discharge destinations and to have reliable predictors for the length of institutional stay (LOS) (ie in hospital or nursing home). PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to find feasible prognostic indicators for the LOS, to be used 5 days after acute stroke, in persons 65 years and older. METHODS: One hundred fifteen consecutive persons, 65 years and older, were assessed 5 days poststroke for the following: consciousness (Glasgow Coma Scale), language (aphasia/no aphasia), perceptual (Cancellation Tasks and Block Test), emotional (lability/no lability), energy and drive (Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Scale), mental (Mini-Mental State Examination), somatosensory (normal/impaired), and urinary (continent/incontinent) functions; mobility (Rivermead mobility index [RMI]); activities of daily living (Barthel Index); and side of hemiplegia or hemiparesis. In addition, previous living arrangements (alone vs with another person), stroke characteristics, and demographic information were documented. Length of institutional stay was recorded 5 days to 3 months poststroke onset. RESULTS: Multiple regression survival analyses showed that the factors with the greatest positive impact on short LOS, 5 days poststroke, were the following: no previous stroke; Glasgow Coma Scale ≥ 13 (mild brain injury); and RMI ≥ 4 points, corresponding to the ability to rise from a chair in less than 15 seconds and stand there for 15 seconds with or without an aid. CONCLUSIONS: In addition to medical appraisal, the RMI ≥ 4 points, a quickly performed test, can be used to predict short LOS for persons with stroke as early as 5 days after stroke onset.

Eating difficulties among stroke patients in the acute state: a descriptive, cross-sectional, comparative study.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To examine eating difficulties among stroke patients - a comparison between women and men. BACKGROUND: Gender differences have been reported in studies of stroke, but the findings are inconclusive and few of these studies have specifically focused on gender differences in eating difficulties. DESIGN: This study was a descriptive, cross-sectional, comparative study. METHOD: Patients with stroke were recruited at a general hospital in Sweden. To detect eating difficulties, individual observations of the patients were made during one meal using a structured observation protocol. Assessment also included measurements of nutritional and oral status, degree of independence, stroke severity, neglect and well-being. RESULTS: One hundred and four patients (53·8% women) were included in the study. The proportion of stroke patients with one or more eating difficulties was 81·7%. The most common eating difficulties were 'managing food on the plate' (66·3%), 'food consumption' (54·8%) and 'sitting position' (45·2%). Women had lower 'food consumption', more severe stroke (p = 0·003), worse functional status (p = 0·001) and lower quality of life (QoL) (p=0·038) than men. More women than men were malnourished and living alone. After adjustment for functional status and motor arm, the odds ratio of having difficulties with food consumption was four times higher among women than men (1·7-9·4, confidence interval 95%). CONCLUSIONS: More women than men with stroke suffered from inadequate food consumption. The women had more severe strokes, experienced poorer QoL and showed lower functional status than the men. In the rehabilitation process of women with stroke, these factors should be taken into consideration. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Structured observation of meals, including assessment of food consumption, might be necessary in acute stroke care to detect patients, especially women, who might need closer supervision and nutritional intervention.

Striving for control in eating situations after stroke.

THE STUDY'S RATIONALE: Eating difficulties are common after stroke. However, to better meet individuals' needs, in terms of care, support and rehabilitation after stroke, it was considered important to know more about how patients with stroke experience their eating difficulties while in process of regaining their ability. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to explore the experience of eating difficulties among patients with stroke 3 months after stroke onset. METHODOLOGICAL DESIGN AND JUSTIFICATION: A qualitative interpretive descriptive approach was used. The analysis was based on constant comparative approach, using the principles of grounded theory. RESEARCH METHODS: The study included 14 participants with stroke and eating difficulties. A semi-structured interview guide with open-ended questions and probes was used. The interview guide was gradually modified during the data collection process. The interviews were digital audio recorded and fully transcribed. Memos were documented simultaneously with the analysis. INSTRUMENTS: A structured observation of a meal verified eating difficulties, and semi-structured interviews were conducted. RESULTS: 'Striving for control' emerged as a tentative core category. The participants related their striving for control to 'eating safely', and 'eating properly'; they also had to analyse the consequences of their eating difficulties, being careful when eating, and/or avoiding activities. Some also felt a need of help from others. Those others could remind and provide advice in this matter. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the complexity of having eating difficulties after stroke. Aspects related to the participants' striving for control are based on different strategies to eat safely and properly. Nurses can use this knowledge to support patients in their strive for control by observing them in eating situations. In addition, nurses can also ask them to describe and make explicit the experience of eating situations after stroke.

Elderly persons' experience and management of eating situations 6 months after stroke.

PURPOSE: To explore the experience and management of eating situations among persons affected by stroke, 6 months after stroke onset. METHOD: A qualitative constant comparative approach, influenced by principles of grounded theory, was used to analyse the interviews. Thirteen participants were interviewed in the home setting 6 months after the stroke. RESULTS: Experiences and desire to master eating situations varied, and was related to values and previous habits. Eating difficulties were experienced as disgusting, uncomfortable, strenuous, or unproblematic and not implying shame. Getting help from others could be experienced as embarrassing and undesirable. In particular, eating could be more difficult when eating in company of unfamiliar people. The participants found new ways of mastering eating situations. Some had regained former routines. CONCLUSIONS: Old values and habits and/or involvement of other people were the basis of mastering eating situations. New ways of mastering were found, some accepted, and got used to the new situation. Some regained former routines. This knowledge could contribute to health care personnel's awareness of each patient's individual values and previous habits during the rehabilitation process. A dialogue is needed with the person suffering from eating difficulties after stroke, to help create the best possible individual conditions for mastering eating situations.

The impact of gender regarding psychological well-being and general life situation among spouses of stroke patients during the first year after the patients' stroke event: a longitudinal study.

BACKGROUND: The informal caregivers perceive lack of choice to take on the role of caregiving, receiving little or no preparation for the caregiving role at home. The typical informal caregiver is female, either a spouse or adult child of the care recipient, and seldom shares the responsibilities of caregiving with other family members. The spouses worry about the ill relative, but also about what consequences the disease might have for their own life. The worries seem to vary with gender and disease. There are, to our knowledge, few previous longitudinal studies that have focused on gender differences among spouses of stroke patients. OBJECTIVES: To explore gender differences among spouses in perceived psychological well-being and general life situation, during the first year after the patients' stroke event. DESIGN: Longitudinal study with three assessments regarding psychological well-being and general life situation during 1 year. SETTINGS: The study took place at a stroke ward, Stockholm, Sweden. PARTICIPANTS: Consecutively 80 female and 20 male spouses of stroke patients admitted to a stroke unit participated. METHODS: Data were analysed using analyses of variance. RESULTS: Female spouses have a negative impact on psychological well-being, while male spouses have a lower occurrence of emotional contacts in their social network. Consistently, the female spouses reported lower quality of life and well-being than the male spouses. CONCLUSIONS: This study generates the hypotheses that there are gender differences among spousal caregivers of stroke patients; female spouses are more negatively affected in their life situation due to the patients' stroke event than the male spouses. It is important to take the individual differences under consideration when designing a nursing intervention, to meet the different needs and demands of male and female caregivers. The interventions should focus on individual support, so that the caregivers can adapt to their new role and be comfortable and effective as informal caregivers.

Determinants of mobility and self-care in older people with stroke: importance of somatosensory and perceptual functions.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Somatosensory as well as mental impairments are easily overlooked after acute stroke. Furthermore, their associations with activity limitations are not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to examine this association and whether the assessment of somatosensory functions will provide information on perceptual functions after acute stroke. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: In 115 subjects who were > or =65 years of age, the following parameters were assessed 5 days after stroke: somatosensory (touch and proprioceptive), perceptual, and cognitive functions; depressive symptoms; mobility; and self-care. RESULTS: Multivariate analyses showed that normal proprioceptive function was significantly associated with better mobility. Normal perceptual and touch functions were significantly associated with better self-care. Subjects with normal proprioceptive function were 8.6 times as likely to have normal perceptual function as subjects with proprioceptive impairment. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Somatosensory and perceptual functions were significantly associated with subjects' activity levels. Normal proprioceptive function also might indicate normal perceptual function.

Thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor and its relationship to fibrinolysis and inflammation during the acute and convalescent phase of ischemic stroke.

To investigate thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI) in ischemic stroke and its relationship to fibrinolysis and inflammation, we investigated 32 patients with ischemic stroke during the acute phase and after 60 days. TAFI antigen levels, global markers of hemostasis (coagulation and fibrinolysis) and inflammatory markers were measured in plasma. TAFI antigen levels were significantly elevated at admission (128%; 109-151%) and at day 1 (129%; 109-152%) compared with day 60 (108%; 91-127%; both P < 0.01) and with healthy control individuals (99%; 76-122%; P < 0.05). In parallel, fibrinolysis assessed as the overall fibrinolysis potential (OFP), part of the overall hemostatic potential assay (OHP), was decreased at all time points compared with control individuals (P < 0.01 for all) and was found to be inversely related to TAFI (r = -0.40; P = 0.0008; n = 20). The OFP and the overall coagulation potential (another part of the OHP assay), and to a lesser degree TAFI, showed significant relationships to C-reactive protein and fibrinogen. In conclusion, elevated TAFI antigen levels may be a consequence of an acute phase reaction, and together with a depressed OFP suggest impaired fibrinolysis in patients with acute ischemic stroke. The OHP method may be useful as a complement to standard hemostatic variables in evaluating hemostasis in stroke patients.

Spasticity and its association with functioning and health-related quality of life 18 months after stroke.

BACKGROUND: There is no consensus concerning the presence of spasticity or the relationship between spasticity and functioning and spasticity and health-related quality of life (HRQL) in the stable phase after stroke. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to describe, 18 months after stroke, the frequency of spasticity and its association with functioning and HRQL. METHODS: In a cohort of 66 consecutive patients with first-ever stroke, studied prospectively, the following parameters were assessed 18 months after stroke: spasticity, by the Modified Ashworth Scale (0-4 points with 1+ as the modification), muscle stiffness, by self-report, abnormal tendon reflexes, by physical examination, motor performance, by the Lindmark Motor Assessment Scale, mobility, by the Rivermead Mobility Index, activities of daily living, by the Barthel Index, and HRQL, by the Swedish Short Form 36 Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-36). RESULTS: Of 66 patients studied, 38 were hemiparetic; of these, 13 displayed spasticity, 12 had increased tendon reflexes, and 7 reported muscle stiffness 18 months after stroke. Weak (r < 0.5) to moderate (r = 0.5-0.75) correlations were seen between spasticity and functioning scores. Correlations between spasticity and HRQL were generally weak (r < 0.5). Hemiparetic patients without spasticity had significantly better functioning scores and significantly better HRQL on 1 of the 8 SF-36 health scales (physical functioning) than patients with spasticity. CONCLUSIONS: Few patients displayed spasticity 18 months after stroke. Spasticity might contribute to impairment of movement function and to limitation of activity, but seems to have a less pronounced effect on HRQL.

Double-blind comparison of sertraline and placebo in stroke patients with minor depression and less severe major depression.

BACKGROUND: Poststroke depression is a frequent condition and important to treat. The aim of this trial was to study the efficacy and tolerability of sertraline. METHOD: In 4 Swedish stroke centers, 123 patients (aged 70.7 +/- 9.9 years) were enrolled during the period September 1998 to January 2001 in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled 26-week trial, at a mean of 128 +/- 97 days (range, 3-375 days) after stroke, if they fulfilled DSM-IV criteria of major depressive episode (N = 76) or minor depressive disorder (N = 47). The primary efficacy variable was a change in depression assessed by the Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale. The Emotional Distress Scale (EDS) was administered and the occurrence of emotionalism and quality of life (QoL) were assessed, as well as neurologic recovery. Efficacy analyses were intention-to-treat, short-term (week 6) and long-term (week 26). RESULTS: Of the 123 patients, 62 were treated with sertraline (50-100 mg/day) and 61 with placebo. Both groups improved substantially, with no differences between the treatments, either for major depressive episode or minor depressive disorder, or for short- or long-term antidepressant effect and neurologic outcome. EDS revealed a better outcome with sertraline at week 6 (p < .05). At week 26, the improvement in QoL was better in sertraline patients (p < .05) and there was a trend for emotionalism (p = .07). No serious side effects were seen. CONCLUSION: Poststroke depression as measured by a conventional depression rating scale improved over time irrespective of treatment. Positive effects specific to sertraline were identified in emotional distress, emotionalism, and QoL. The study indicates that poststroke emotional reactions comprise depression and other domains susceptible to pharmacologic therapy.