ß-Blockers associated with no class-specific survival benefit in acute intracerebral hemorrhage.

OBJECTIVES: Despite the high mortality, there is currently no specific treatment for intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Research investigating optimum degree of blood pressure control in patients presenting with ICH and hypertension is ongoing. However, there is limited understanding of the potential benefits of specific classes of antihypertensive therapy. ß-Adrenergic antagonists may provide neuroprotection from inflammation-induced injury by inhibiting sympathetic nervous system mediated immune activation. We examined mortality in ICH patients receiving ß-adrenergic antagonists to determine whether this class of antihypertensive therapy was associated with improved survival. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of a large, prospectively collected database of patients presenting with acute ICH was performed. Patients were grouped by inpatient ß-blocker treatment to determine an effect on mortality during the inpatient stay and at 3 months of follow-up. Additional analysis was conducted comparing ß-blocker therapy to any other antihypertensive treatment to determine a class-specific association of ß-blocker treatment with mortality. RESULTS: The study population included 426 patients with acute, spontaneous ICH. Inpatient ß-blocker use was independently associated with decreased rates of inpatient death and mortality at 3 months of follow-up. However, univariate and multivariable analyses comparing ß-blocker use to other antihypertensives failed to show any class-specific reduction in mortality at either time point. DISCUSSION: Our study demonstrates that the improvement seen in patients treated with ß-adrenergic antagonists is not an effect unique to this class. This supports ongoing trials to determine optimum levels of blood pressure control using multiple classes of antihypertensives.

Anti-adrenergic medications and edema development after intracerebral hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Use of antihypertensive medications is common after intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Medications that block adrenergic activation (e.g., beta-blockers and the alpha(2)-agonist, clonidine) may reduce the inflammatory response and therefore have secondary benefit after ICH. METHODS: The patients with acute ICH enrolled in the placebo arm of the CHANT trial were included. Univariate and multivariate analyses were undertaken for factors associated with blood pressure medication use, edema at 72 h, and clinical outcome at 90 days. RESULTS: Of the 303 patients, 87.8% received some antihypertensive treatment during the first 72 h of hospitalization. Edema volume on neuroimaging at 72 h was independently associated with clinical outcome. Use of anti-adrenergic medications was associated with less edema after controlling for hemorrhage volume and blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS: Antihypertensive medications that antagonize the sympathetic nervous system may reduce perihematomal edema after ICH.

Who will participate in acute stroke trials?

BACKGROUND: Despite the high incidence of acute stroke, only a minority of patients are enrolled in acute stroke treatment trials. We aimed to identify factors associated with participation in clinical trials of novel therapeutic agents for acute stroke. METHODS: Prospective survey of patients with acute stroke <72 hours from onset. A structured interview was administered to the patient or primary decision-maker. If offered participation in an actual acute treatment trial, questions focused on decisions about that trial; otherwise a similar mock trial was proposed. The primary outcome was whether the subject agreed to participate in the proposed trial. RESULTS: A total of 200 subjects (47% patients, 53% proxies) completed the survey: mean age 63 +/- 14 years, 47% women, 44% white, 50% black. A real acute trial was offered to 22%; others were offered a mock trial. Overall, 57% (95% confidence interval: 50%-64%) of respondents stated they would participate in the proposed acute treatment trial. There were no differences with respect to age, sex, race, educational level, self-assessed stroke severity or stroke type, vascular risk factors, or comorbidities. Misconceptions about key research concepts were found in 50% but did not impact participation. Participation was associated with the perceived risk of the proposed trial intervention (p < 0.001), prior general attitudes about research (p < 0.001), and influences attributed to family, religion, and other personal beliefs (p < 0.001). Patients were more likely to participate than proxy decision-makers (p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Demographic factors, clinical factors, and prior knowledge about research have little impact on the decision to participate in acute stroke clinical trials. Preexisting negative attitudes and external influences about research strongly inhibit participation. Patients are more inclined to participate than their proxy decision-makers.

Prior antiplatelet use does not affect hemorrhage growth or outcome after ICH.

OBJECTIVE: To examine whether antiplatelet medication use at onset of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is associated with hemorrhage growth and outcome after spontaneous ICH using a large, prospectively collected database from a recent clinical trial. METHODS: The Cerebral Hemorrhage and NXY-059 Treatment trial was a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of NXY-059 after spontaneous ICH. We analyzed patients in the placebo arm, and correlated antiplatelet medication use at the time of ICH with initial ICH volumes, ICH growth in the first 72 hours, and modified Rankin Score at 90 days. Patients on oral anticoagulation were excluded. RESULTS: There were 282 patients included in this analysis, including 70 (24.8%) who were taking antiplatelet medications at ICH onset. Use of antiplatelet medications at ICH onset had no association with the volume of ICH at presentation, growth of ICH at 72 hours, initial edema volume, or edema growth. In multivariable analysis, there was no association of use of antiplatelet medications with any hemorrhage expansion (relative risk [RR] 0.85 [upper limit of confidence interval (UCI) 1.03], p = 0.16), hemorrhage expansion greater than 33% (RR 0.77 [UCI 1.18], p = 0.32), or clinical outcome at 90 days (odds ratio 0.67, 95% confidence interval 0.39-1.14, p = 0.14). CONCLUSIONS: Use of antiplatelet medications at intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) onset is not associated with increased hemorrhage volumes, hemorrhage expansion, or clinical outcome at 90 days. These findings suggest that attempts to reverse antiplatelet medications after ICH may not be warranted.

Encephalopathy and peripheral neuropathy following diethylene glycol ingestion.

The authors report a 24-year-old man who developed encephalopathy and rapid quadriplegia following ingestion of a solution containing diethylene glycol (DEG). As quadriparesis evolved, motor response amplitudes were markedly reduced with preserved conduction velocities. Studies during clinical recovery revealed marked motor conduction velocity slowing and prolonged distal latencies. These data indicate that DEG intoxication may cause a primary acute axonal sensorimotor polyneuropathy with demyelinating physiology during recovery.