Mechanical thrombectomy in acute stroke - Five years of experience in Poland.

OBJECTIVES: Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is not reimbursed by the Polish public health system. We present a description of 5 years of experience with MT in acute stroke in Comprehensive Stroke Centers (CSCs) in Poland. METHODS AND RESULTS: We retrospectively analyzed the results of a structured questionnaire from 23 out of 25 identified CSCs and 22 data sets that include 61 clinical, radiological and outcome measures. RESULTS: Most of the CSCs (74%) were founded at University Hospitals and most (65.2%) work round the clock. In 78.3% of them, the working teams are composed of neurologists and neuro-radiologists. All CSCs perform CT and angio-CT before MT. In total 586 patients were subjected to MT and data from 531 of them were analyzed. Mean time laps from stroke onset to groin puncture was 250±99min. 90.3% of the studied patients had MT within 6h from stroke onset; 59.3% of them were treated with IV rt-PA prior to MT; 15.1% had IA rt-PA during MT and 4.7% - emergent stenting of a large vessel. M1 of MCA was occluded in 47.8% of cases. The Solitaire device was used in 53% of cases. Successful recanalization (TICI2b-TICI3) was achieved in 64.6% of cases and 53.4% of patients did not experience hemorrhagic transformation. Clinical improvement on discharge was noticed in 53.7% of cases, futile recanalization - in 30.7%, mRS of 0-2 - in 31.4% and mRS of 6 in 22% of cases. CONCLUSION: Our results can help harmonize standards for MT in Poland according to international guidelines.

Endovascular treatment of cervical intramedullary arteriovenous malformation.

Intramedullary arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) in the cervical region are a rare clinical condition. They represent a therapeutic challenge, as the lesions may cause serious functional disorders due to their location within or immediately adjacent to the critical ascending and descending sensorimotor pathways. In this case report, we present a patient with a cervical intramedullary AVM that was treated with endovascular therapy. Our experience suggests that endovascular treatment is an effective and safe method for treating AVMs located in the cervical region of the spinal cord. More studies are needed to establish appropriate treatment protocols depending on the clinical course, the anatomy of the lesion, and the region in which it is found.

The angiotensin-receptor blocker candesartan for treatment of acute stroke (SCAST): a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial.

BACKGROUND: Raised blood pressure is common in acute stroke, and is associated with an increased risk of poor outcomes. We aimed to examine whether careful blood-pressure lowering treatment with the angiotensin-receptor blocker candesartan is beneficial in patients with acute stroke and raised blood pressure. METHODS: Participants in this randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial were recruited from 146 centres in nine north European countries. Patients older than 18 years with acute stroke (ischaemic or haemorrhagic) and systolic blood pressure of 140 mm Hg or higher were included within 30 h of symptom onset. Patients were randomly allocated to candesartan or placebo (1:1) for 7 days, with doses increasing from 4 mg on day 1 to 16 mg on days 3 to 7. Randomisation was stratified by centre, with blocks of six packs of candesartan or placebo. Patients and investigators were masked to treatment allocation. There were two co-primary effect variables: the composite endpoint of vascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke during the first 6 months; and functional outcome at 6 months, as measured by the modified Rankin Scale. Analyses were by intention to treat. The study is registered, number NCT00120003 (ClinicalTrials.gov), and ISRCTN13643354. FINDINGS: 2029 patients were randomly allocated to treatment groups (1017 candesartan, 1012 placebo), and data for status at 6 months were available for 2004 patients (99%; 1000 candesartan, 1004 placebo). During the 7-day treatment period, blood pressures were significantly lower in patients allocated candesartan than in those on placebo (mean 147/82 mm Hg [SD 23/14] in the candesartan group on day 7 vs 152/84 mm Hg [22/14] in the placebo group; p<0·0001). During 6 months' follow-up, the risk of the composite vascular endpoint did not differ between treatment groups (candesartan, 120 events, vs placebo, 111 events; adjusted hazard ratio 1·09, 95% CI 0·84-1·41; p=0·52). Analysis of functional outcome suggested a higher risk of poor outcome in the candesartan group (adjusted common odds ratio 1·17, 95% CI 1·00-1·38; p=0·048 [not significant at p≤0·025 level]). The observed effects were similar for all prespecified secondary endpoints (including death from any cause, vascular death, ischaemic stroke, haemorrhagic stroke, myocardial infarction, stroke progression, symptomatic hypotension, and renal failure) and outcomes (Scandinavian Stroke Scale score at 7 days and Barthel index at 6 months), and there was no evidence of a differential effect in any of the prespecified subgroups. During follow-up, nine (1%) patients on candesartan and five (<1%) on placebo had symptomatic hypotension, and renal failure was reported for 18 (2%) patients taking candesartan and 13 (1%) allocated placebo. INTERPRETATION: There was no indication that careful blood-pressure lowering treatment with the angiotensin-receptor blocker candesartan is beneficial in patients with acute stroke and raised blood pressure. If anything, the evidence suggested a harmful effect. FUNDING: South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority; Oslo University Hospital Ullevål; AstraZeneca; Takeda.

Angiotensin receptor blockade in acute stroke. The Scandinavian Candesartan Acute Stroke Trial: rationale, methods and design of a multicentre, randomised- and placebo-controlled clinical trial (NCT00120003).

BACKGROUND: Elevated blood pressure following acute stroke is common, and yet early antihypertensive treatment is controversial. ACCESS suggested a beneficial effect of the angiotensin receptor blocker candesartan in the acute phase of stroke, but these findings need to be confirmed in new, large trials. AIMS AND DESIGN: The Scandinavian Candesartan Acute Stroke Trial is an international randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial of candesartan in acute stroke. We plan to recruit 2500 patients presenting within 30 h of stroke (ischaemic or haemorrhagic) and with systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg. The recruited patients are randomly assigned to candesartan or placebo for 7-days (doses increasing from 4 to 16 mg once daily). Randomisation is performed centrally via a secure web interface. The follow-up period is 6-months. Patients are included from the following nine North-European countries: Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Estonia and Finland. STUDY OUTCOMES: There are two co-primary effect variables: • Functional status at 6-months, measured by the modified Rankin Scale, and • vascular death, myocardial infarction or stroke during the first 6-months. Secondary outcome variables: Secondary effect variables include • the Barthel index (functional status) • EuroQol (quality of life) and • Mini-mental state examination (cognition) at 6-months • Health economic costs during the first 6-months FUNDING: The Scandinavian Candesartan Acute Stroke Trial receives basic funding from Norwegian health authorities. AstraZeneca supplies the trial drugs, and AstraZeneca and Takeda support the trial with limited, unrestricted grants. SUMMARY: The Scandinavian Candesartan Acute Stroke Trial is the first large trial of angiotensin receptor blockers in patients with elevated blood pressure and acute stroke, and aims to answer whether treatment with angiotensin receptor blockers is beneficial for this indication.

Endovascular treatment of intracranial aneurysms with remodelling using Leo+ stents.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Endovascular embolization is an approved method of treatment of cerebral aneurysms. Several difficulties can be caused by wide-neck aneurysms. In these cases vascular remodelling is required. It can be performed with the use of balloons or intracranial stents. This method allows expansion of the therapeutic indications for aneurysm embolization. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We present the results of the Leo+ stent implantation with embolization with coils in nine consecutive patients treated between May 2007 and September 2008 in the Institute of Psychiatry and Neurology. RESULTS: In 3 cases embolization was complete, in 4 subtotal, and in 2 partial. In 3 cases the procedure was complicated by stroke: in 2 patients directly after the procedure and in 1 patient 45 days after embolization. 1 patient died due to a recurrent stroke over 1 year after the procedure. Technical failure was noted in 1 patient (stent misplacement from target vessel - the middle cerebral artery to the internal carotid artery, and therefore it did not cover the neck of the aneurysm). CONCLUSIONS: Vascular remodelling with intracranial stents in treating wide-neck intracranial aneurysms is a promising method allowing the indications for endovascular embolization to be increased. Nevertheless, it seems to carry a relatively high risk of cerebrovascular thromboembolic complications, especially ischaemic stroke. It also seems that the procedure itself might cause some technical difficulties. The full clinical safety and efficacy need further evaluation.