Symptomatic intracranial embolic foreign-body reactions after endovascular neurointerventional procedures: A retrospective study in a tertiary hospital.

INTRODUCTION: Polymer-coats may peel-off the surface of catheters and devices during endovascular procedures and might lead to brain inflammatory foreign-body reactions. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective, descriptive, single-centre study including all patients with symptomatic intracranial oedematous and contrast-enhancing lesions after any neurointerventional procedure performed in our hospital between 2013 and 2019. RESULTS: From a total of 7446 neurointerventional procedures, 11 cases were identified (9 female, 2 male, median age 47 year-old), with an incidence of 0.14 %. The procedures were therapeutic in all: ten aneurysm embolization/isolation, one acute ischaemic stroke recanalization. Intracranial coils, stent or both were placed in all. Symptoms appeared during the following one day to fourteen months (median of 4.2 weeks). Brain MRI showed oedematous, contrast-enhancing lesions scattered through the vascular territory of the canalized vessel. Brain biopsy confirmed the diagnosis in one case and was supportive in another one. Eight patients received immunosuppression. No treatment was started in two. After a median time of follow-up of 3.5 years, five patients are totally asymptomatic. One patient presents slight weakness. Four patients have remote symptomatic seizures, but they have comorbid lesions (previous stroke, intracranial haemorrhage, biopsy needle-track's gliosis). Follow-up MRI showed significant improvement in all the cases, with complete resolution in five. Non-symptomatic lesion fluctuation was observed in three cases. Two patients experienced symptomatic rebounds. CONCLUSION: Intracranial embolic foreign-body symptomatic reactions are uncommon complications of neurointerventional procedures. Diagnostic angiographies might have lower risk of polymer-embolization than therapeutic procedures. This entity's early recognition enables making proper diagnosis and treatment decisions.

Relación del nivel de estudios con la supervivencia en el primer año tras un ictus isquémico / Relationship between level of education and one-year survival after ischaemic stroke

Introducción. La relación del nivel socioeconómico con las tasas de incidencia y de mortalidad por ictus está bien establecida. La evidencia de la relación con la supervivencia de los pacientes tras el ictus es menos concluyente. El nivel educativo es una medida de nivel socioeconómico muy utilizada en estudios con personas de edad avanzada. Objetivo. Estudiar la relación de la supervivencia en el primer año tras el ictus con el nivel de estudios. Pacientes y métodos. Se analizaron los datos de 544 pacientes con ictus isquémico agudo ingresados en los hospitales públicos de Bizkaia (España), seleccionados consecutivamente. Se obtuvieron datos por entrevista a pacientes o acompañantes y de historia clínica. Se estudiaron variables sobre situación funcional previa, gravedad del ictus, factores de riesgo cardiovascular y de atención al ictus. Se hizo un seguimiento de 12 meses para registrar, en su caso, la fecha de fallecimiento. Se realizó un análisis univariado y multivariado para identificar la relación del nivel de estudios con la supervivencia. Resultados. Tras 12 meses, sobrevivían 203 mujeres (86%) y 273 hombres (88,6%). En ambos sexos, las personas con menos estudios tuvieron peor situación funcional previa, mayor gravedad y fallecieron en mayor proporción. En el análisis multivariado, el nivel de estudios se mantuvo asociado con la supervivencia en el modelo ajustado para los hombres. Conclusiones. La diversidad de nivel educativo marca diferencias en la supervivencia de los pacientes con ictus isquémico en nuestro entorno. El impacto de este factor fue mayor en los hombres que en las mujeres

Aim. To assess the relationship between one-year survival after stroke and level of education. Patients and methods. We analysed data on 544 consecutively recruited patients admitted for acute ischaemic stroke in one the public hospitals of Bizkaia (Spain). Data were obtained through interviews with patients or accompanying persons and from medical records. We studied variables concerning previous functional status, stroke severity, cardiovascular risk factors and stroke care provided. Patients were followed up for 12 months and the dates of any deaths were recorded. Univariate and multivariate analyses were carried out to assess the relationship between level of education and survival. Results. A total of 203 (86%) women and 273 (88.6%) men were alive at 12 months. In both sexes, individuals with a lower level of education had poorer previous functional status, more severe strokes and higher mortality rates. In the multivariate analysis, the association between level of education and survival remained significant in the adjusted model in men. Conclusions. In our setting, there are differences in the survival of patients with ischaemic stroke as a function of level of education. The impact of this factor was greater in men than women

Clinical Outcome of Mechanical Thrombectomy for Stroke in the Elderly.

BACKGROUND: Endovascular revascularization with mechanical devices has proven an effective treatment for proximal occlusions of the major intracranial arteries in stroke patients, but there is only limited information as to whether there should be an age limit for its use. We aimed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of endovascular revascularization in stroke patients aged 80 years and older, and compare the results with younger patients. METHODS: We prospectively collected 81 consecutive patients subjected to mechanical thrombectomy for proximal occlusion of the anterior circulation during a period of 27 months. According to age, patients were divided into those aged less than 80 years (younger group) and those aged 80 years and older (elderly group). We analyzed favorable outcome, successful and futile recanalization, neurological improvement, in-hospital complications, and mortality in both groups. RESULTS: A favorable outcome (modified Rankin Scale score ≤2 at 3 months) was reached by 51.6% in the elderly group and 64% of younger patients, and neurological improvement (improvement of ≥4 points on National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale) was present in 77.4% of the elderly group. Overall, successful recanalization rates were 95.1% and futile recanalization reached 39% without statistically significant differences between both groups. Elderly patients presented more in-hospital complications (61.3% versus 38%) and higher mortality rates (16.1% versus 8%). CONCLUSIONS: Clinical independence was reached in over half of elderly stroke patients treated with mechanical thrombectomy, supporting the use of this treatment without age restriction.