Lumbar puncture for treating acute hydrocephalus after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: External ventricular drainage (EVD) for acute hydrocephalus after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH) carries a risk of complications. We studied the proportion of patients in whom EVD can be avoided by treating acute hydrocephalus with ≥1 lumbar punctures (LP). METHODS: From a prospectively collected database, we retrieved data on all aSAH patients admitted between 2007 and 2017 who developed acute hydrocephalus (i.e. neurological deterioration and ventricular enlargement <72 h after aSAH). Our regime is to consider LP as initial treatment. We calculated the proportions of patients (with corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI)) who improved after the initial LP and the extent of clinical improvement, the proportions of patients who were treated with only ≥1 LP(s), and those of patients needing continuous external ventricular or external lumbar drainage, or permanent ventriculoperitoneal or lumboperitoneal drainage. RESULTS: Of 1391 consecutive aSAH patients, 473 (34%) had acute hydrocephalus, of whom 388 (82%) were treated. Of the 86 patients with LP as initial treatment, 70 (81% [95% CI 72-88]) showed initial improvement (with increase in median Glasgow Coma Score from 10 (IQR 7-12) to 12 (IQR 9-14) after initial LP), 39 (45% [95% CI 35-56]) improved with LP only, 41 (48% [95% CI 37-58]) needed continuous drainage and six (7% [95% CI 3-14]) needed permanent drainage. CONCLUSION: Around half the patients treated with LP for deterioration from acute hydrocephalus after aSAH does not require continuous extraventicular or extralumbar drainage.

Relationship between 3D Morphologic Change and 2D and 3D Growth of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Untreated unruptured intracranial aneurysms are usually followed radiologically to detect aneurysm growth, which is associated with increased rupture risk. The ideal aneurysm size cutoff for defining growth remains unclear and also whether change in morphology should be part of the definition. We investigated the relationship between change in aneurysm size and 3D quantified morphologic changes during follow-up. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed 3D morphology measurements of unruptured intracranial aneurysms on baseline and follow-up TOF-MRAs. Morphology measurements included surface area, compactness, elongation, flatness, sphericity, shape index, and curvedness. We investigated the relation between morphologic change between baseline and follow-up scans and unruptured intracranial aneurysm growth, with 2D and 3D growth defined as a continuous variable (correlation statistics) and a categoric variable (t test statistics). Categoric growth was defined as ≥1-mm increase in 2D length or width. We assessed unruptured intracranial aneurysms that changed in morphology and the proportion of growing and nongrowing unruptured intracranial aneurysms with statistically significant morphologic change. RESULTS: We included 113 patients with 127 unruptured intracranial aneurysms. Continuous growth of unruptured intracranial aneurysms was related to an increase in surface area and flatness and a decrease in the shape index and curvedness. In 15 growing unruptured intracranial aneurysms (12%), curvedness changed significantly compared with nongrowing unruptured intracranial aneurysms. Of the 112 nongrowing unruptured intracranial aneurysms, 10 (9%) changed significantly in morphology (flatness, shape index, and curvedness). CONCLUSIONS: Growing unruptured intracranial aneurysms show morphologic change. However, nearly 10% of nongrowing unruptured intracranial aneurysms change in morphology, suggesting that they could be unstable. Future studies should investigate the best growth definition including morphologic change and size to predict aneurysm rupture.

Reliability and Agreement of 2D and 3D Measurements on MRAs for Growth Assessment of Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Reliable and reproducible measurement of unruptured intracranial aneurysm growth is important for unruptured intracranial aneurysm rupture risk assessment. This study aimed to compare the reliability and reproducibility of 2D and 3D growth measurements of unruptured intracranial aneurysms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 2D height, width, and neck and 3D volume measurements of unruptured intracranial aneurysms on baseline and follow-up TOF-MRAs were performed by two observers. The reliability of individual 2D and 3D measurements and of change (growth) between paired scans was assessed (intraclass correlation coefficient) and stratified for aneurysm location. The smallest detectable change on 2D and 3D was determined. Proportions of growing aneurysms were compared, and Bland-Altman plots were created. RESULTS: Seventy-two patients with 84 unruptured intracranial aneurysms were included. The interobserver reliability was good-to-excellent for individual measurements (intraclass correlation coefficient > 0.70), poor for 2D change (intraclass correlation coefficient < 0.5), and good for 3D change (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.76). For both 2D and 3D, the reliability was location-dependent and worse for irregularly shaped aneurysms. The smallest detectable changes for 2D height, width, and neck and 3D volume measurements were 1.5 , 2.0, and 1.9 mm and 0.06 mL, respectively. The proportion of growing unruptured intracranial aneurysms decreased from 10% to 2%, depending on the definition of growth (1 mm or the smallest detectable changes for 2D and 3D). CONCLUSIONS: The interobserver reliability of the size measurements of individual 2D and 3D unruptured intracranial aneurysms was good-to-excellent but lower for 2D and 3D growth measurements. For growth assessment, 3D measurements are more reliable than 2D measurements. The smallest detectable change for 2D measurements was larger than 1 mm, the current clinical definition of unruptured intracranial aneurysm growth.

Prediction of Outcome Using Quantified Blood Volume in Aneurysmal SAH.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In patients with SAH, the amount of blood is strongly associated with clinical outcome. However, it is commonly estimated with a coarse grading scale, potentially limiting its predictive value. Therefore, we aimed to develop and externally validate prediction models for clinical outcome, including quantified blood volumes, as candidate predictors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical and radiologic candidate predictors were included in a logistic regression model. Unfavorable outcome was defined as a modified Rankin Scale score of 4-6. An automatic hemorrhage-quantification algorithm calculated the total blood volume. Blood was manually classified as cisternal, intraventricular, or intraparenchymal. The model was selected with bootstrapped backward selection and validated with the R 2, C-statistic, and calibration plots. If total blood volume remained in the final model, its performance was compared with models including location-specific blood volumes or the modified Fisher scale. RESULTS: The total blood volume, neurologic condition, age, aneurysm size, and history of cardiovascular disease remained in the final models after selection. The externally validated predictive accuracy and discriminative power were high (R 2 = 56% ± 1.8%; mean C-statistic = 0.89 ± 0.01). The location-specific volume models showed a similar performance (R 2 = 56% ± 1%, P = .8; mean C-statistic = 0.89 ± 0.00, P = .4). The modified Fisher models were significantly less accurate (R 2 = 45% ± 3%, P < .001; mean C-statistic = 0.85 ± 0.01, P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: The total blood volume-based prediction model for clinical outcome in patients with SAH showed a high predictive accuracy, higher than a prediction model including the commonly used modified Fisher scale.

Gadolinium Enhancement of the Aneurysm Wall in Extracranial Carotid Artery Aneurysms.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The natural history and optimal treatment of extracranial carotid artery aneurysms are unknown. Gadolinium enhancement of the aneurysm wall may reflect aneurysm wall inflammation and instability. In this study, we investigated the feasibility of extracranial carotid artery aneurysm wall imaging and explored a potential relationship of aneurysm wall enhancement with aneurysm growth and the presence of (silent) brain infarcts and white matter lesions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fourteen conservatively treated patients with 15 asymptomatic extracranial carotid artery aneurysms underwent gadolinium-enhanced 3T MR imaging at 2 time points with a 12-month interval. Primary outcome was growth of the aneurysm sac (≥2.0 mm); secondary outcomes were the presence of (silent) brain infarcts and white matter lesions at baseline and follow-up. MR images were reviewed by 2 independent observers, and inter- and intraobserver reproducibility was assessed. RESULTS: Seven (50%) patients were men; the median age was 55 years (range, 40-69 years). Eleven extracranial carotid artery aneurysms (73%) were saccular (median size, 11 mm; range, 5.0-38.5 mm), and 4 were fusiform (median size, 21.5 mm; range, 10.0-40.0 mm). Eleven of 15 aneurysms (73%) exhibited gadolinium enhancement at baseline. Four aneurysms (27%) showed growth at follow-up imaging, 2 gadolinium-positive (+) and 2 gadolinium-negative (-) (P = .245). Three patients (21%) had ipsilateral brain infarcts at baseline; 1 of them showed a new silent brain infarct at follow-up imaging (gadolinium+). Nine patients (64%) showed bilateral white matter lesions at baseline. In 3 patients, increased white matter lesion severity was observed at follow-up (2 gadolinium+). All observations showed excellent inter- and intraobserver reproducibility. CONCLUSIONS: In this explorative study, we demonstrated that extracranial carotid artery aneurysm wall imaging was feasible. Future well-powered studies are needed to investigate whether extracranial carotid artery aneurysm gadolinium enhancement predicts aneurysm growth and thromboembolic complications.

Gadolinium Enhancement of the Aneurysm Wall in Unruptured Intracranial Aneurysms Is Associated with an Increased Risk of Aneurysm Instability: A Follow-Up Study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Previous studies have suggested that gadolinium enhancement of the wall of unruptured intracranial aneurysms on MR imaging may reflect aneurysm wall instability. However, all previous studies were cross-sectional. In this longitudinal study, we investigated whether aneurysm wall enhancement is associated with an increased risk of aneurysm instability. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included all patients 18 years of age or older with ≥1 unruptured aneurysm from the University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands, who were included in 2 previous studies with either 3T or 7T aneurysm wall MR imaging and for whom it was decided not to treat the aneurysm but to monitor it with follow-up imaging. We investigated the risk of growth or rupture during follow-up of aneurysms with and without gadolinium enhancement of the aneurysm wall at baseline and calculated the risk difference between the 2 groups with corresponding 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: We included 57 patients with 65 unruptured intracranial aneurysms. After a median follow-up of 27 months (interquartile range, 20-31 months), growth (n = 2) or rupture (n = 2) was observed in 4 of 19 aneurysms (21%; 95% CI, 6%-54%) with wall enhancement and in zero of 46 aneurysms (0%; 95% CI, 0%-8%) without enhancement (risk difference, 21%; 95% CI, 3%-39%). CONCLUSIONS: Gadolinium enhancement of the aneurysm wall on MR imaging is associated with an increased risk of aneurysm instability. The absence of wall enhancement makes it unlikely that the aneurysm will grow or rupture in the short term. Larger studies are needed to investigate whether aneurysm wall enhancement is an independent predictor of aneurysm instability.

The relationship between ischaemic brain lesions and cognitive outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral ischaemia is thought to be an important determinant of cognitive outcome after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (aSAH), but the exact relationship is unclear. We studied the effect of ischaemic brain lesions during clinical course on cognitive outcome 2 months after aSAH. METHODS: We studied 74 consecutive patients admitted to the University Medical Center Utrecht who had MRI post-coiling (3-21 days post-aSAH) and neuropsychological examination at 2 months. An ischaemic lesion was defined as hyperintensity on T2-FLAIR and DWI images. We measured both cognitive complaints (subjective) and cognitive functioning (objective). The relationship between ischaemic brain lesions and cognitive outcome was analysed by logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: In 40 of 74 patients (54%), 152 ischaemic lesions were found. The median number of lesions per patient was 2 (1-37) and the median total lesion volume was 0.2 (0-17.4) mL. No difference was found between the group with and the group without ischaemic lesions with respect to the frequency of cognitive complaints. In the group with ischaemic lesions, significantly more patients (55%) showed poor cognitive functioning compared to the group without ischaemic lesions (26%) (OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.3-9.1). We found no relationship between the number and volume of the ischaemic lesions and cognitive functioning. CONCLUSIONS: Ischaemic brain lesions detected on MRI during clinical course after aSAH is a marker for poor cognitive functioning 2 months after aSAH, irrespective of the number or volume of the ischaemic lesions. Network or connectivity studies are needed to better understand the relationship between location of the ischaemic brain lesions and cognitive functioning.

Role of von Willebrand factor and ADAMTS-13 in early brain injury after experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Essentials von Willebrand Factor (VWF) and ADAMTS13 may affect early injury after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Early brain injury was assessed in VWF-/- , ADAMTS13-/- and recombinant (r) ADAMTS13 treated mice. VWF-/- and rADAMTS13 treated mice had less brain injury than ADAMTS13-/- and wild-type mice. Early administration of rADAMTS13 may improve outcome after SAH by reducing early brain injury. SUMMARY: Background Early brain injury is an important determinant of poor functional outcome and case fatality after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), and is associated with early platelet aggregation. No treatment exists for early brain injury after SAH. We investigated whether von Willebrand factor (VWF) is involved in the pathogenesis of early brain injury, and whether ultra-early treatment with recombinant ADAMTS-13 (rADAMTS-13) reduces early brain injury after experimental SAH. Methods Experimental SAH in mice was induced by prechiasmatic injection of non-anticoagulated blood from a littermate. The following experimental SAH groups were investigated: C57BL/6J control (n = 21), VWF-/- (n = 25), ADAMTS-13-/- (n = 23), and C57BL/6J treated with rADAMTS-13 (n = 26). Mice were killed at 2 h after SAH. Primary outcome measures were microglial activation (IBA-1 surface area) and neuronal injury (number of cleaved caspase-3-positive neurons). Results As compared with controls, microglial activation was decreased in VWF-/- mice (mean difference of - 20.0%, 95% confidence interval [CI] - 4.0% to - 38.6%), increased in ADAMTS-13-/- mice (mean difference of + 34.0%, 95% CI 16.2-51.7%), and decreased in rADAMTS-13-treated mice (mean difference of - 22.1%, 95% CI - 3.4% to - 39.1%). As compared with controls (185 neurons, interquartile range [IQR] 133-353), neuronal injury in the cerebral cortex was decreased in VWF-/- mice (63 neurons, IQR 25-78), not changed in ADAMTS-13-/- mice (53 neurons, IQR 26-221), and reduced in rADAMTS-13-treated mice (45 neurons, IQR 9-115). Conclusions Our findings suggest that VWF is involved in the pathogenesis of early brain injury, and support the further study of rADAMTS-13 as a treatment option for early brain injury after SAH.

Prevalence of extracranial carotid artery aneurysms in patients with an intracranial aneurysm.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Aneurysms in various arterial beds have common risk- and genetic factors. Data on the correlation of extracranial carotid artery aneurysms (ECAA) with aneurysms in other vascular territories are lacking. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of ECAA in patients with an intracranial aneurysm (IA). METHODS: We used prospectively collected databases of consecutive patients registered at the University Medical Center Utrecht with an unruptured intracranial aneurysm (UIA) or aneurysmal Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The medical files of patients included in both databases were screened for availability of radiological reports, imaging of the brain and of the cervical carotid arteries. All available radiological images were then reviewed primarily for the presence of an ECAA and secondarily for an extradural/cavernous carotid or vertebral artery aneurysm. An ECAA was defined as a fusiform dilation ≥150% of the normal internal or common carotid artery or a saccular distention of any size. RESULTS: We screened 4465 patient records (SAH database n = 3416, UIA database n = 1049), of which 2931 had radiological images of the carotid arteries available. An ECAA was identified in 12/638 patients (1.9%; 95% CI 1.1-3.3) with completely imaged carotid arteries and in 15/2293 patients (0.7%; 95% CI 0.4-1.1) with partially depicted carotid arteries. Seven out of 27 patients had an additional extradural (cavernous or vertebral artery) aneurysm. CONCLUSIONS: This comprehensive study suggests a prevalence for ECAA of approximately 2% of patients with an IA. The rarity of the disease makes screening unnecessary so far. Future registry studies should study the factors associated with IA and ECAA to estimate the prevalence of ECAA in these young patients more accurately.

Effect of recombinant ADAMTS-13 on microthrombosis and brain injury after experimental subarachnoid hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: A common complication after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI), which is associated with vasospasm and other mechanisms such as microthrombosis. ADAMTS-13 activity plays a role in the prevention of thrombus formation in the cerebral microvasculature. Previously, we observed that patients with DCI have lower levels of ADAMTS-13. OBJECTIVES: To examine whether recombinant human ADAMTS-13 (rADAMTS-13) reduces cerebral microthrombus formation and brain injury in an experimental mouse model of SAH including wild-type and ADAMTS-13(-/-) mice. METHODS: Experimental SAH was induced with the prechiasmatic blood injection model. The following experimental groups were investigated: (i) C57BL/6J mice (n = 10); (ii) C57BL/6J mice (n = 10) treated with rADAMTS-13 20 min after SAH; (iii) ADAMTS-13(-/-) mice (n = 10); and (iv) ADAMTS-13(-/-) mice (n = 10) treated with rADAMTS-13 20 min after SAH. Mice were killed at 48 h. Results are presented as means with standard errors of the mean. RESULTS: Infusion with rADAMTS-13 reduced the extent of microthrombosis by ~ 50% in both wild-type mice (mean fibrinogen area: 0.28% ± 0.09% vs. 0.15% ± 0.04%; P = 0.20) and ADAMTS-13(-/-) mice (mean fibrinogen area: 0.32% ± 0.05% vs. 0.16% ± 0.03%; P = 0.016). In addition, rADAMTS-13 reduced brain injury by > 60% in both wild-type mice (mean microglia area: 0.65% ± 0.18% vs. 0.18% ± 0.04%; P = 0.013) and ADAMTS-13(-/-) mice (mean microglia area: 1.24% ± 0.36% vs. 0.42% ± 0.13%; P = 0.077). CONCLUSIONS: Our results support the further study of rADAMTS-13 as a treatment option for the prevention of microthrombosis and brain injury after SAH.

White blood cell count is an independent predictor of outcomes after acute ischaemic stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: In patients with ischaemic stroke, elevated white blood cell count (WBC) has been associated with stroke severity on admission and poor functional outcome. However, previous studies did not control for confounding factors. We hypothesized that higher WBC is an independent predictor of stroke severity, greater degree of disability and 30-day mortality after acute ischaemic stroke. METHODS: Data from the Registry of the Canadian Stroke Network on consecutive patients with acute ischaemic stroke admitted between July 2003 and March 2008 were used. Patients were divided into groups as follows: low WBC (0.1-4 × 10(-9) /l), normal WBC (4.1-10 × 10(-9) /l) and high WBC (10.1-40 × 10(-9) /l). Primary outcome measures were the frequency of moderate/severe strokes on admission (Canadian Neurological Scale ≤ 8), greater degree of disability at discharge (modified Rankin score 3-6) and 30-day mortality. Regression analyses were performed adjusting for confounders. RESULTS: In total, 8829 patients were included. After adjustment for major potential confounders, every 1 × 10(-9) /l increase in WBC was associated with stroke severity on admission [odds ratio (OR) 1.09; 95%CI 1.07-1.10; P < 0.0001), disability at discharge (OR 1.04; 95%CI 1.02-1.06; P = 0.0005) and 30-day mortality (hazard ratio 1.07; 95%CI 1.05-1.08; P < 0.0001). The Kaplan-Meier curves indicate that elevated WBC is associated with higher mortality after acute ischaemic stroke (P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with acute ischaemic stroke, higher WBC on admission is an independent predictor of stroke severity on admission, greater degree of disability at discharge and 30-day mortality. These results reinforce the need for further studies focused on immunomodulation therapy targeting inflammatory response following acute ischaemic stroke.

Post-traumatic stress disorder in patients 3 years after aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH) from a ruptured intracranial aneurysm accounts for approximately 5% of all strokes. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is common in the early phase after recovery from aneurysmal SAH. The aim of our study was to examine the prevalence of PTSD 3 years after SAH, its predictors, and relationship with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients living independently in the community. METHODS: From a prospectively collected cohort of 143 patients with aneurysmal SAH who visited our outpatient clinic 3 months after SAH, 94 patients (65.7%) completed a mailed questionnaire 3 years after SAH. We assessed PTSD with the Impact of Event Scale and HRQoL with the Stroke-Specific Quality of Life Scale (SS-QoL). The χ(2) and t tests were used to investigate if patients who returned the questionnaires were different from those who did not reply. Non-parametric tests (χ(2) and Mann-Whitney tests) were used to test for differences between patients with and without PTSD. Relative risks and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. RESULTS: No relevant differences in demographic (age, sex, education) or SAH characteristics (clinical condition on admission, complication, location of aneurysm, Glasgow Outcome Scale score at 3 months) were seen between participants and drop-outs. In 24 patients (26%), Impact of Event Scale scores indicated PTSD. Passive coping style (relative risk, 5.7; 95% confidence interval, 2.1-15.3), but none of the demographic or SAH-related factors, predicted PTSD. The mean SS-QoL total score was 4.2 (SD 1.1), indicative of a relatively satisfactory HRQoL. PTSD was associated with lower HRQoL (p < 0.001), a mean SS-QoL score of 4.4 (SD 1.0) without PTSD, and a mean SS-QoL score of 3.5 (SD 1.1) with PTSD. CONCLUSIONS: Even 3 years after SAH, 1 out of 4 patients had PTSD, which was associated with reduced HRQoL. Passive coping style was the most important predictor. There is a need to organize SAH care with more attention to and treatment of PTSD. Strategies shown to reduce PTSD in other conditions should be tested for effectiveness in SAH patients.

A 5-item prediction rule to identify severe renal dysfunction in patients with acute stroke.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Although patients with severe renal dysfunction who receive iodinated contrast are at high risk of CIN, contrast-enhanced CT scans are often obtained without prior knowledge of kidney function in patients with acute stroke. We aimed to develop a tool to identify patients with acute stroke at a high risk of CIN in the absence of a recent GFR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used the RCSN (9872 patients) and OSA (2544 patients) for our derivation and validation cohort, respectively. A multivariable logistic regression model was performed to develop a predictive tool to identify severe renal dysfunction (defined as a GFR < 30 mL/min/1.73 m(2)). RESULTS: The overall prevalence of severe renal dysfunction was 4.9% and 5.2% in the derivation and validation cohort, respectively. The prediction rule was designed as follows: (age in years) + (5 points for women) + (5 points for history of diabetes mellitus) + (15 points for preadmission insulin use) + (10 points for history of hypertension). The prevalence of severe renal dysfunction is negligible in patients with a total score of ≤70 (≤0.005%-0.7%) but increases with higher Renal Risk Scores (eg, scores 71-80: 2.1%-2.2%; scores 91-100: 6.6%-7.1%; scores 111-120: 15.9%-28.1%). CONCLUSIONS: The Renal Risk Score is a validated tool that helps clinicians select which patients with stroke can safely proceed to contrast-enhanced brain imaging without waiting for laboratory evidence of good renal function.

Long-term satisfaction after neurological second opinions and tertiary referrals.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The number of second opinions (SO) and tertiary referrals (TR) in neurology is increasing. Previously, we showed that a day-care admission for neurological SO's and TR's often results in a new diagnosis and/or treatment advice and increases patient satisfaction. However, long-term satisfaction for these consultations has never been studied. The main purpose of this study was to investigate long-term satisfaction in these groups of patients. METHODS: A 2-year follow-up study in 300 patients who had attended a day-care clinic for SO and TR. Long-term satisfaction was assessed with a questionnaire using four Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) satisfaction items (ranging 0-10). Patients were asked if they had sought further consultations for the same problem after they had consulted the day-care clinic. A model was constructed to assess predictors for seeking new consultations. RESULTS: Overall satisfaction decreased 2.4 (SD 2.4) points during follow-up to the same level as before the consultation. The decrease was similar in SO and TR patients. Twenty-eight per cent of the patients consulted other health-care workers. Greater satisfaction immediately after the consultation was the only predictor for not seeking additional consultations (OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.61-0.99 for every point increase on VAS). CONCLUSION: Despite a high rate of new diagnoses and advised treatments, long-term satisfaction decreased after 2 years to baseline levels. These results question the long-term efficacy of a day-care clinic to evaluate neurological second opinions and tertiary referrals.

Beta-cell dysfunction and insulin resistance after subarachnoid haemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Hyperglycaemia is a common finding and an independent risk factor for increased morbidity and mortality in aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage (SAH). Although in these patients hyperglycaemia is commonly ascribed to insulin resistance, there is little understanding of underlying mechanisms. AIMS: To prospectively study temporal disturbances of glucose metabolism after aneurysmal SAH in patients without known abnormalities of glucose metabolism and to explore possible correlations with markers of stress. METHODS: In consecutive aneurysmal SAH patients not subjected to insulin therapy, in-hospital and follow-up oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs) and assessments of insulin resistance, pancreatic ß-cell function, free fatty acids (FFA) and cortisol were performed and compared with reference values. RESULTS: We included 13 patients. In the first 2 weeks of admission, median fasting glucose and FFA levels were elevated while insulin levels were not. OGTTs were indicative of glucose intolerance in all patients at days 3 and 7, while on follow-up 1 patient had glucose intolerance and all patients had normal fasting glucose levels. Pancreatic ß-cell function was impaired throughout the first week and insulin resistance from day 4 to 10. Levels of cortisol correlated with higher fasting glucose and increased FFA. FFA in turn correlated with pancreatic ß-cell dysfunction. CONCLUSIONS: Aneurysmal SAH patients have transient abnormalities of glucose metabolism. During the first week, it appears to result predominantly from transient pancreatic ß-cell dysfunction, in combination with insulin resistance.

Patient satisfaction in neurological second opinions and tertiary referrals.

Although the number of neurological second opinions (SOs) and tertiary referrals (TRs) is increasing, only little is known about expectations and patient satisfaction in this group of patients. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to explore expectations of patients who get a neurological SO or TR and to assess patient satisfaction in these groups of patients. All new patients attending an academic neurological day-care clinic in a 6-month period were investigated. Demographic characteristics, duration of symptoms, expectations and motivation, new diagnoses and treatment consequences were studied, and patient satisfaction with the previous physician and the day-care clinic physician was assessed. Three hundred consecutive patients (183 SOs and 117 TRs) were evaluated. SO patients were younger (47 years vs. 51 years), and their duration of symptoms was longer (24 vs. 13 months) than TR patients. Most patients expected a new diagnosis or treatment (60%). SO patients were equally as satisfied with the day-care clinic consultation as TR patients (overall satisfaction using a VAS-score ranging 0-10: 7.4 vs. 7.5; p = 0.81), and significantly less satisfied with the referring physician (overall satisfaction: 5.6 vs. 7.0; p < 0.001). SO patients, in particular, were more satisfied with the degree of information and emotional support provided by the consulting neurologist as compared to the referring physician. Receiving a new diagnosis and/or treatment advice did not influence satisfaction. A day-care admission for neurological SO and TR leads to an increase of patient satisfaction, irrespective of making a new diagnosis or initiation of a new treatment.

Thrombolysis in patients with acute ischemic stroke due to arterial extracranial dissection.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: No data of randomized controlled trials investigating the effect of thrombolysis in patients with ischemic stroke caused by an extracranial dissection are available. Previous case series suggested that thrombolysis in this group of patients is safe and improves outcome, however publication bias may play a role. The purpose of the present study was to describe outcome of consecutive patients with ischemic stroke caused by an extracranial dissection treated with recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA), derived from a well-defined ischemic stroke cohort. METHODS: All consecutive patients with a transient ischemic attack (TIA) or ischemic stroke admitted to the Academic Medical Center Amsterdam between January 1, 2007 and September 1, 2007 were prospectively registered. Cause of TIA/stroke, treatment, and 6-months outcome were recorded. RESULTS: During the study period 252 patients were evaluated with TIA or ischemic stroke. Eight patients (3%) had an extracranial dissection. Of the six rtPA treated patients, five had good clinical outcome and one patient died. The two patients who were not treated with rtPA, because of minor stroke, had good clinical outcome 6 months after index event. DISCUSSION: Treatment with rtPA seems to be safe and feasible in ischemic stroke patients with an extracranial dissection.

Ethnicity a risk factor? The relation between ethnicity and large- and small-vessel disease in White people, Black people, and Asians within a hospital-based population.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies suggest that in patients with ischaemic stroke, White people often present with large-vessel and Black people with small-vessel strokes. This study investigates the relation between large- and small-vessel disease, and ethnicity in White, Black, and Asian patients in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. METHODS: In a hospital-based population of 668 patients ethnicity was determined by self-identification. The relation between ethnicity and carotid stenosis, as an indicator of large-vessel disease, was determined using univariate analysis, and adjusted for age, gender, hypertension and smoking. Subsequently the relation between ethnicity and lacunar infarcts, as a manifestation of small-vessel disease, was investigated. RESULTS: The odds ratio for having carotid stenosis, compared to White patients, was 0.55 (0.23-1.33) for Blacks, 0.53 (0.18-1.52) for Asians, and 0.64 (0.14-2.85) for other ethnicities. The adjusted odds ratio for a non-White patient compared to a White patient was 0.44 (0.19-1.02) (P = 0.05). The non-White patients more often presented with lacunar infarcts compared to Whites. CONCLUSION: We found an association between White patients and the presence of carotid artery stenosis. Not only in Black but also in Asian patients the association with carotid artery stenosis was substantially lower. In the non-White population there was an association with lacunar infarcts compared to Whites.