Sexual dimorphism in peripheral blood cell characteristics linked to recanalization success of endovascular thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke.

Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) success to treat acute ischemic stroke varies with factors like stroke etiology and clot composition, which can differ between sexes. We studied if sex-specific blood cell characteristics (BCCs) are related to recanalization success. We analyzed electronic health records of 333 EVT patients from a single intervention center, and extracted 71 BCCs from the Sapphire flow cytometry analyzer. Through Sparse Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis, incorporating cross-validation and stability selection, we identified BCCs associated with successful recanalization (TICI 3) in both sexes. Stroke etiology was considered, while controlling for cardiovascular risk factors. Of the patients, successful recanalization was achieved in 51% of women and 49% of men. 21 of the 71 BCCs showed significant differences between sexes  (pFDR-corrected < 0.05). The female-focused recanalization model had lower error rates than both combined [t(192.4) = 5.9, p < 0.001] and male-only models [t(182.6) = - 15.6, p < 0.001]. In women, successful recanalization and cardioembolism were associated with a higher number of reticulocytes, while unsuccessful recanalization and large artery atherosclerosis (LAA) as cause of stroke were associated with a higher mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration. In men, unsuccessful recanalization and LAA as cause of stroke were associated with a higher coefficient of variance of lymphocyte complexity of the intracellular structure. Sex-specific BCCs related to recanalization success varied and were linked to stroke etiology. This enhanced understanding may facilitate personalized treatment for acute ischemic stroke.

Rate and Rhythm Control Treatment in the Elderly and Very Elderly Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: An Observational Cohort Study of 1497 Patients.

Stroke prevention and rate or rhythm control are crucial in the management of atrial fibrillation (AF). There is recent evidence for benefit of early rhythm control, yet rate control is the first choice in elderly patients. However, the efficacy and safety of rate and rhythm control in the elderly population remains largely unexplored. Therefore, we analyzed electronic health record data and investigated prescribing patterns and mortality of both strategies in elderly patients with AF. Data from patients with AF who were aged ≥75 years, used a pharmacological rate or rhythm control strategy, and visited Cardiology Centers of the Netherlands between 2007 and 2018 were extracted. Of the 1497 patients (54% female), 316 (21%) were prescribed rhythm control and 1181 (79%) rate control. Patients aged >85 years (OR: 2.28; 95% CI: 1.51-3.44, P< 0.001) and those with permanent AF (OR: 2.71; 95% CI: 1.67-4.41, P< 0.001) were more likely to receive rate control, whereas those with paroxysmal AF were less likely to receive rate control (OR: 0.42; 95% CI: 0.32-0.56, P< 0.001). After correction for relevant confounders, the mortality risk for patients using rhythm control and patients using rate control was similar (HR: 0.89; 95% CI: 0.70-1.12, P = 0.31). A more liberal approach towards prescribing a rhythm control strategy to the elderly patients with AF may be warranted and seems safe. Our data underscore the need for prospective studies to provide definite answers on efficacy and safety of rhythm control in elderly patients with AF.

Extracellular vesicle-derived CD14 is independently associated with the extent of cardiovascular disease burden in patients with manifest vascular disease.

BACKGROUND: In patients with established cardiovascular disease, high levels of the extracellular vesicle (EV)-derived proteins cystatin C, CD14, and α2-antiplasmin predict recurrent cardiovascular events. We examined whether these proteins are associated with the extent of vascular disease. METHODS: In 1062 patients from the SMART (Secondary Manifestations in ARTerial disease) study, EVs were isolated from plasma at baseline. Cystatin C, CD14, and α2-antiplasmin were measured in these vesicles using a multiplex assay. The extent of vascular disease burden was determined by a sum score that incorporates history and current presence of clinically manifest coronary, cerebrovascular, peripheral arterial, and abdominal aneurysm disease, and parameters of atherosclerosis that were assessed during the SMART screening protocol (ankle-brachial index, common carotid intima-media thickness, carotid stenosis, and aorta diameter). The relation between EV protein levels and extent of vascular disease was evaluated using ordinal multivariable regression models. RESULTS: EV-derived CD14 was significantly associated with the number of affected vascular territories (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.4-4.1) as represented by the sum score, independently of cardiovascular risk factors. Cystatin C and α2-antiplasmin EV levels did not show an independent association with vascular disease extent. When investigating parameters of the sum score separately, we did not observe a strong association between any of the EV-derived proteins and the markers of atherosclerosis. CONCLUSIONS: EV-derived CD14 levels are strongly correlated to the extent of vascular disease, but not specifically to markers that reflect atherosclerosis burden, in patients with manifest cardiovascular disease.