Secular trends in cardiovascular disease and its risk factors in Japanese: half-century data from the Hisayama Study (1961-2009).

BACKGROUND: Changes in lifestyle and advances in medical technology during the past half century are likely to have affected the incidence and mortality of cardiovascular disease and the prevalence of its risk factors in Japan. METHODS AND RESULTS: We established 5 cohorts consisting of residents aged ≥40 years in a Japanese community, in 1961 (n=1618), 1974 (n=2038), 1983 (n=2459), 1993 (n=1983), and 2002 (n=3108), and followed up each cohort for 7 years. The age-adjusted incidence of stroke decreased greatly, by 51% in men and by 43% in women, from the 1960s to the 1970s, but this decreasing trend slowed from the 1970s to the 2000s. Among the stroke subtypes, ischemic stroke in both sexes and intracerebral hemorrhage in men showed a similar pattern. Stroke mortality decreased as a result of the decline in incidence and a significant improvement in survival rate. Although the incidence of acute myocardial infarction did not change in either sex, disease mortality declined slightly in women. From the 1960s to the 2000s, blood pressure control among hypertensive individuals improved significantly and the smoking rate decreased, but the prevalence of glucose intolerance, hypercholesterolemia, and obesity increased steeply. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that in Japanese, the decreasing trends in the incidence of ischemic stroke have recently slowed down, and there has been no clear change in the incidence of acute myocardial infarction, probably because the benefits of hypertension control and smoking cessation have been negated by increasing metabolic risk factors.

Trends in the incidence and survival of intracerebral hemorrhage by its location in a Japanese community.

BACKGROUND: No previous population-based studies have examined secular trends in the incidence of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) by its location. METHODS AND RESULTS: We established 3 cohorts consisting of residents of Hisayama, Japan, aged ≥40 years without a history of stroke or myocardial infarction in 1961 (the first cohort, n=1,618), in 1974 (the second cohort, n=2,038), and in 1988 (the third cohort, n=2,637). Each cohort was followed for 13 years. The age- and sex-adjusted incidence of ICH significantly declined from the first to the second cohort and showed no further change in the third cohort. With regard to the ICH location, the incidence of putaminal hemorrhage decreased steadily, mainly in subjects aged 60-69 years, whereas the incidence of thalamic hemorrhage increased, especially in those aged ≥70 years. Both hypertension and alcohol intake were strong risk factors for ICH in the first cohort, but their influence declined with time. Blood pressure levels in hypertensive subjects decreased significantly, and the proportion of current drinkers decreased slightly over the study period. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that the ICH incidence steeply declined from the 1960s to the 1970s in Japan as a result of the reduced influence of hypertension and alcohol intake, but that this decline has leveled off since then, probably because of the increased incidence of thalamic hemorrhage in the elderly in recent years.

Clinical significance of plasma VEGF value in ischemic stroke - research for biomarkers in ischemic stroke (REBIOS) study.

BACKGROUND: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a well-known molecule mediating neuronal survival and angiogenesis. However, its clinical significance in ischemic stroke is still controversial. The goal of this study was to examine the temporal profile of plasma VEGF value and its clinical significance in ischemic stroke with taking its subtypes into consideration. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 171 patients with ischemic stroke and age- and gender-matched healthy subjects. The stroke patients were divided into 4 subtypes: atherothrombotic infarction (ATBI, n = 34), lacunar infarction (LAC, n = 45), cardioembolic infarction (CE, n = 49) and other types (OT, n = 43). Plasma VEGF values were measured as a part of multiplex immunoassay (Human MAP v1.6) and we obtained clinical information at 5 time points (days 0, 3, 7, 14 and 90) after the stroke onset. RESULTS: Plasma VEGF values were significantly higher in all stroke subtypes but OT than those in the controls throughout 90 days after stroke onset. There was no significant difference in the average VEGF values among ATBI, LAC, and CE. VEGF values were positively associated with neurological severity in CE patients, while a negative association was found in ATBI patients. After adjustment for possible confounding factors, plasma VEGF value was an independent predictor of poor functional outcome in CE patients. CONCLUSIONS: Although plasma VEGF value increases immediately after the stroke onset equally in all stroke subtypes, its significance in functional outcome may be different among the stroke subtypes.

Management of Antithrombotic Agents During Surgery or Other Kinds of Medical Procedures With Bleeding: The MARK Study.

Background Optimal management of antithrombotic agents during surgery has yet to be established. We performed a prospective multicenter observational study to determine the current status of the management of antithrombotic agents during surgery or other medical procedures with bleeding (MARK [Management of Antithrombotic Agents During Surgery or Other Kinds of Medical Procedures With Bleeding] study) in Japan. Methods and Results The participants were 9700 patients who received oral antithrombotic agents and underwent scheduled medical procedures with bleeding at 59 National Hospital Organization institutions in Japan. Primary outcomes were thromboembolic events, bleeding events, and death within 2 weeks before and 4 weeks after the procedures. We investigated the relationships between each outcome and patient demographics, comorbidities, type of procedure, and management of antithrombotic therapy. With respect to the periprocedural management of antithrombotic agents, 3551 patients continued oral antithrombotic agents (36.6%, continuation group) and 6149 patients discontinued them (63.4%, discontinuation group). The incidence of any thromboembolic event (1.7% versus 0.6%, P<0.001), major bleeding (7.6% versus 0.4%, P<0.001), and death (0.8% versus 0.4%, P<0.001) was all greater in the discontinuation group than the continuation group. In multivariate analysis, even after adjusting for confounding factors, discontinuation of anticoagulant agents was significantly associated with higher risk for both thromboembolic events (odds ratio: 4.55; 95% CI, 1.67-12.4; P=0.003) and major bleeding (odds ratio: 11.1; 95% CI, 2.03-60.3; P=0.006) in procedures with low bleeding risk. In contrast, heparin bridging therapy was significantly associated with higher risk for both thromboembolic events (odds ratio: 2.03; 95% CI, 1.28-3.22; P=0.003) and major bleeding (odds ratio: 1.36; 95% CI, 1.10-1.68; P=0.005) in procedures with high bleeding risk. Conclusions Discontinuation of oral antithrombotic agents and addition of low-dose heparin bridging therapy appear to be significantly associated with adverse events in the periprocedural period.

[A case of angioedema with dysarthria mimicking transient ischemic attack].

An 85-year-old woman was transported to our emergency room by ambulance with a complaint of slurred speech. Neurological examination revealed dysarthria only. We considered that lingual edema identified on physical examination might have influenced dysarthria. However, we were unable to perform sufficient evaluation, since she could not open her mouth widely or push the tongue out beyond the lips. We considered the incidence of acute cerebrovascular disease because of the acute onset, and performed emergency brain MRI. Imaging revealed that although no abnormality was present in the brain parenchyma, edema of the tongue and soft palate was evident on T2-weighted sagittal imaging. We confirmed the dysarthria was caused by tongue edema due to angioedema. In addition, we diagnosed angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI)-induced angioedema, because ACEI had been started 2 months earlier as pharmacotherapy for hypertension. Tongue swelling due to angioedema should be considered when examining patients with dysarthria.

Characteristic sonographic findings of early restenosis after carotid endarterectomy.

OBJECTIVE: Restenosis of the carotid artery after carotid endarterectomy (CEA) is a major complication. The frequency, time of occurrence, and tissue characteristics of carotid restenosis were assessed with sonography. METHODS: Two hundred sixteen patients who had CEA for carotid stenosis were studied; follow-up sonography and magnetic resonance angiography were done 2 weeks, 3 months, and then every year after CEA. On sonography, restenosis was defined as an internal carotid artery (ICA) with a peak systolic velocity of 170 cm/s or greater or a maximum area of stenosis of 90% or greater. RESULTS: During 605 artery-years of follow-up, 18 patients (7.5%) were found to have restenosis on sonography: 4 at 3 months, 11 at 1 year, and 3 at 2 years after CEA. At the time that restenosis was detected, in all 18 ICAs the peak systolic velocity exceeded 200 cm/s and had more than doubled since the last measurement (mean +/- SD, 103 +/- 27 to 321 +/-107 cm/s), whereas the area of stenosis exceeded 90% in 6 patients, and magnetic resonance angiography revealed stenosis of 60% or greater in 8 patients. On sonography, all of the restenotic plaques were isoechoic and concentric. The restenosis was asymptomatic in 17 patients. Vascular risk factors or the severity of initial carotid stenosis before CEA were not associated with development of restenosis. Eleven patients had successful endovascular therapy, and the others received medical treatment. CONCLUSIONS: A marked increase in the flow velocity through an operated ICA is a good indication of restenosis. The isoechogenicity and concentricity of the restenotic plaques suggest that the restenosis is primarily the result of intimal hyperplasia.

Prevalence of and risk factors for cerebral microbleeds in a general Japanese elderly community.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the prevalence of and risk factors for cerebral microbleeds (CMBs) in a cross-sectional study of a general population of Japanese elderly. METHODS: In 2012, brain MRI scanning at 1.5T and comprehensive health examination were conducted for 1281 residents aged 65 years or older. CMBs were defined as ovoid hypointensity lesions less than 10 mm in diameter on T2*-weighted images and classified into deep/infratentorial or lobar CMBs. Age- and sex-specific and overall prevalence of CMBs were estimated, and the associations of traditional cardiovascular risk factors and APOE polymorphism with the presence of CMBs were examined using a logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The crude prevalences of total, deep/infratentorial, and lobar CMBs were 18.7% (n = 240), 13.5% (n = 173), and 9.6% (n = 123), respectively. The prevalence of total CMBs was 23.0% in men and 15.5% in women and increased with aging in both sexes (both p for trend <0.01). Hypertension was significantly associated with the presence of both deep/infratentorial and lobar CMBs. Lower serum total cholesterol was a significant risk factor for deep/infratentorial CMBs, but not for lobar CMBs, while APOE ε4 carriers had a significantly higher likelihood only of lobar CMBs compared with noncarriers. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that approximately 1 of 5 Japanese elderly people have CMBs, and that risk factors for deep/infratentorial and lobar CMBs are different, indicating the distinct pathologic backgrounds of these lesions.

[Measurement of Prothrombin Fragment 1+2 for the Assessment of Anticoagulant Activity in Patients Treated with Warfarin or Non-vitamin K Antagonist Oral Anticoagulant].

[Background and purpose] Prothrombin fragment 1+2 (PF1+2) is a sensitive marker for blood coagulation system. In order to evaluate anticoagulant activity in patients treated with warfarin or non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC), we measured plasma levels of PF1+2 and evaluated anticoagulant activity by each anticoagulant agent. [Methods] Subjects were 28 patients, 17 men and 11 women, 77±6 year old, with oral anticoagulant therapy for secondary prevention of stroke. We measured plasma levels of PF1+2 in 70 times in 7 patients treated with warfarin, and 154 times in 27 patients treated with NOAC. PT-INR was simultaneously measured in patients treated with warfarin. [Results] In warfarin treatment groups, PT-INR values were median 1.96 (IQR 1.8-2.1) and PF1+2 levels were median 111 pmol/l (IQR 95-141). All PF1+2 levels were below the upper limit of normal range, but 12 values (17%) of them in 5 patients were below the lower limit of normal range. 8 of the 12 values were at PT-INR below 2.5, and 1 of whom developed intracerebral hemorrhage. Plasma levels of PF1+2 in patients treated with dabigatran 150mg BID, dabigatran 110mg BID, rivaroxaban 15mg QD, rivaroxaban 10mg QD, apixaban 5mg BID, apixaban 2.5mg BID, and edxaban 30mg QD were median 116 pmol/l (IQR 99-136), 132 pmol/l (IQR 99-162), 109 pmol/l (IQR 100-125), 133 pmol/l (IQR 100-177), 88 pmol/l (IQR 76-102), 148 pmol/l (IQR 93-167), 221 pmol/l (IQR 208-234). They were all above the lower limit of the normal range, 3 of which were above the upper limit of the normal range. Excessive suppression of thrombin production was more frequently seen in warfarin treatment than in NOAC treatment (p<0.05). [Conclusion] In warfarin treatment, thrombin production was suppressed excessively in 17%, although it was not in NOAC treatment. (Received September 21, 2016; Accepted December 26, 2016; Published May 1, 2017).

Association between the maximal distance of atrial septal protrusion and cryptogenic stroke.

Background and purpose Previous studies have suggested that atrial septal aneurysm is a potential risk factor for cerebral embolism. However, the association between the level of atrial septal protrusion and cerebral embolism is still unclear. The purpose of the present study was to assess the association between the maximal distance of atrial septal protrusion and cryptogenic stroke. Methods A total of 588 consecutive acute ischemic stroke patients (70 ± 11 (mean ± SD) years, 401 men) who underwent transesophageal echocardiography were enrolled. The maximal distance of atrial septal protrusion into the right or left atrium was measured. Atrial septal aneurysm was diagnosed when the maximal distance of atrial septal protrusion was >10 mm. Cryptogenic stroke was defined as non-lacunar ischemic stroke without >50% proximal artery stenosis or occlusion, cardioembolic sources, ≥4 mm atherosclerotic plaques in the aortic arch, or carotid or vertebral artery dissection. Results The rate of cryptogenic stroke increased with the increasing maximal distance of atrial septal protrusion. The maximal distance of atrial septal protrusion (multivariate-adjusted odds ratio (OR) per 1 mm, 1.14; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.04-1.24; P = 0.003) and atrial septal aneurysm (multivariate-adjusted OR, 4.32; 95% CI, 1.22-20.39; P = 0.022) was independently associated with cryptogenic stroke. Conclusions The maximal distance of atrial septal protrusion was independently associated with cryptogenic stroke.

A case of vitamin B12 deficiency with involuntary movements and bilateral basal ganglia lesions.

An 86-year-old woman with a one-year history of dementia was admitted to our hospital complaining of loss of appetite, hallucinations, and disturbance of consciousness. She gradually presented with chorea-like involuntary movements of the extremities. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed bilateral symmetrical hyperintense signals in the basal ganglia. The serum vitamin B12 level was below the lower detection limit of 50 pg/ml. The homocysteine level was markedly elevated at 115.8 nmol/ml. Anti-intrinsic factor and anti-parietal cell antibody tests were positive. Gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed atrophic gastritis. The patient was diagnosed with encephalopathy due to vitamin B12 deficiency caused by pernicious anemia. Involuntary movements and MRI abnormalities improved with parenteral vitamin B12 supplementation. Bilateral basal ganglia lesions are rare manifestations of adult vitamin B12 deficiency. The present case is considered valuable in identifying the pathophysiology of involuntary movement due to vitamin B12 deficiency.

Posterior Reversible Encephalopathy Syndrome During Combined Modality Therapy for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is a rare and acute disease with central nervous system symptoms. Without appropriate therapy, patients may exhibit a poor prognosis. PRES should be recognized as a possible problem during therapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). METHODS: A 56-year-old female developed PRES during combined modality therapy for HNSCC. On the fourth day after surgery and following chemoradiotherapy, PRES developed with a sudden visual disorder, followed by headache located at the back of the head and convulsions accompanied by impaired consciousness. We diagnosed PRES based on the clinical manifestations and magnetic resonance imaging data. RESULTS: The patient recovered from PRES by appropriate treatment. CONCLUSION: This is the first case report of PRES developed during treatment for HNSCC. Masked by other cerebrovascular disorders, more cases of PRES could exist than usually expected; therefore, we should consider PRES as a differential diagnosis for central nervous system disorders developing during high-intensity therapy.

Association Between Diabetes and Hippocampal Atrophy in Elderly Japanese: The Hisayama Study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between diabetes and brain or hippocampal atrophy in an elderly population. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 1,238 community-dwelling Japanese subjects aged ≥65 years underwent brain MRI scans and a comprehensive health examination in 2012. Total brain volume (TBV), intracranial volume (ICV), and hippocampal volume (HV) were measured using MRI scans for each subject. We examined the associations between diabetes-related parameters and the ratios of TBV to ICV (an indicator of global brain atrophy), HV to ICV (an indicator of hippocampal atrophy), and HV to TBV (an indicator of hippocampal atrophy beyond global brain atrophy) after adjustment for other potential confounders. RESULTS: The multivariable-adjusted mean values of the TBV-to-ICV, HV-to-ICV, and HV-to-TBV ratios were significantly lower in the subjects with diabetes compared with those without diabetes (77.6% vs. 78.2% for the TBV-to-ICV ratio, 0.513% vs. 0.529% for the HV-to-ICV ratio, and 0.660% vs. 0.676% for the HV-to-TBV ratio; all P < 0.01). These three ratios decreased significantly with elevated 2-h postload glucose (PG) levels (all P for trend <0.05) but not fasting plasma glucose levels. Longer duration of diabetes was significantly associated with lower TBV-to-ICV, HV-to-ICV, and HV-to-TBV ratios. The subjects with diabetes diagnosed in midlife had significantly lower HV-to-ICV and HV-to-TBV ratios than those without and those diagnosed in late life. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that a longer duration of diabetes and elevated 2-h PG levels, a marker of postprandial hyperglycemia, are risk factors for brain atrophy, particularly hippocampal atrophy.

Hematocrit and the risk of cardiovascular disease in a Japanese community: The Hisayama Study.

OBJECTIVES: The association between hematocrit levels and the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been reported inconsistently. We aimed to investigate the association of hematocrit levels with the development of stroke and coronary heart disease (CHD) in a general Japanese population. METHODS: A total of 2585 community-dwelling Japanese individuals aged 40 years or older in 1988 were followed up for 19 years. These subjects were divided into four groups according to the sex-specific quartiles of hematocrit at baseline. RESULTS: During the follow-up, 301 subjects developed stroke (210 ischemic and 91 hemorrhagic) and 187 developed CHD. The risk of ischemic stroke was higher in both the lowest (Q1: men, ≤44.7%; women, ≤39.3%) and the highest (Q4: men, ≥49.7%; women, ≥43.8%) quartiles than in the third quartile (Q3: men, 47.1%-49.6%; women, 41.7%-43.7%) used as a reference (multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios [95% confidence intervals]: Q1, 1.55 [0.99-2.43]; Q2, 1.44 [0.93-2.23]; Q3, 1.00; and Q4, 1.62 [1.06-2.50]; P = 0.86 for trend). In contrast, hematocrit levels and the risk of hemorrhagic stroke showed a linear inverse association (Q1, 1.91 [1.03-3.54]; Q2, 1.26 [0.68-2.34]; Q3, 1.00; and Q4, 0.81 [0.41-1.61]; P = 0.009 for trend). The risk of CHD increased significantly in Q4 (Q1, 1.13 [0.71-1.80]; Q2, 1.08 [0.69-1.71]; Q3, 1.00; and Q4, 1.60 [1.04-2.46]; P = 0.13 for trend). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that both elevated and decreased hematocrit levels are associated with an increased risk of CVD, but the influence of hematocrit is different among subtypes of CVD.

Plasma S100A12 is associated with functional outcome after ischemic stroke: Research for Biomarkers in Ischemic Stroke.

BACKGROUND: Ischemic stroke is accompanied by an inflammatory response, which exacerbates brain injury and deteriorates functional outcome. S100A12 is expressed abundantly in granulocytes, and has been implicated to play an important role on inflammatory reactions in various disease states. We aimed to determine the association between plasma S100A12 levels and a functional outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke. METHODS: We prospectively included 171 patients with acute ischemic stroke within 24h after onset in this study. Plasma samples were collected for the measurement of S100A12 levels. Poor functional outcome was defined as a modified Rankin Scale of 2-6 at day 90 after stroke onset. RESULTS: Of 171 patients, 74 (43.3%) had a poor functional outcome at day 90 after stroke onset. Plasma S100A12 levels on admission were significantly higher in patients with a poor functional outcome (2.1 [1.2-5.1] ng/mL, median [interquartile]) than in those with a favorable outcome (1.1 [0.5-2.0] ng/mL; p<0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that the highest quartile of plasma S100A12 levels on admission showed a significantly higher risk for a poor functional outcome (odds ratio, 4.01; 95% confidence interval, 1.09-16.10; p=0.03) than the lowest quartile. CONCLUSIONS: High plasma S100A12 levels on admission are associated with a poor functional outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Insulin resistance and the development of cardiovascular disease in a Japanese community: the Hisayama study.

AIMS: Although several surrogate measures of insulin resistance have been proposed, their associations with cardiovascular disease (CVD) have not been evaluated sufficiently. METHODS: A total of 2,356 community-dwelling Japanese individuals aged 40 to 79 years who underwent a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test were followed up for 14 years. The status of insulin resistance was estimated by using the Matsuda index or homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). RESULTS: During follow-up, 260 subjects developed CVD. The age- and sex-adjusted hazard ratios of CVD significantly decreased with an increasing Matsuda index and rose with increasing HOMA-IR levels (both p for trend <0.05). After adjustment for age, sex, serum total cholesterol, electrocardiogram abnormalities, proteinuria, smoking habits, alcohol intake, and regular exercise, the risk of CVD was significantly lower in the third to fifth quintiles of the Matsuda index and higher in the fifth quintile of HOMA-IR values compared with the first quintile of the corresponding index (Matsuda index Q3: hazard ratio (HR)= 0.59 [95% confidence interval 0.40-0.87]; Q4: HR= 0.66 [0.45-0.97]; and Q5: HR= 0.67 [0.47-0.97]; HOMA-IR Q5: HR= 1.55 [1.05-2.29]); however, these associations were attenuated after further adjustment for the metabolic syndrome status. In regard to CVD subtypes, the risks for stroke and coronary heart disease significantly decreased with an increasing Matsuda index, while elevated HOMA-IR levels were a significant risk factor for stroke, but not for coronary heart disease. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that insulin resistance significantly increases the risk of incident CVD through metabolic syndrome in Japanese.

A case of SLE presenting stroke-like symptoms.

We report a 50-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who developed stroke-like symptoms, including disturbance of consciousness and severe left hemiparesis. Despite the stroke-like symptoms, MR imaging showed quite atypical findings for stroke; broad high-intensity areas in the right fronto-parietal lobes on diffusion-weighted images were shown mainly as iso-intensity areas on the ADC map, without any findings of stenosis of the cerebral large arteries. The cerebral blood flow in these areas was significantly decreased, as evaluated by single photon emission computed tomography. The present case suggests that small vessel vasculopathies localized in the unilateral hemisphere could cause "stroke-like" symptoms in SLE.

High blood pressure in acute ischemic stroke and underlying disorders.

BACKGROUND: The Acute Candesartan Cilexetil Therapy in Stroke Survivors (ACCESS) study indicated that early treatment with an angiotensin type 1 receptor blocker in acute stroke patients who had relatively high blood pressure improved cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in the chronic stage. To better interpret the findings of this study, we determined whether stroke patients with high acute blood pressure had specific underlying conditions. METHODS: We divided 712 consecutive patients who were hospitalized within 48 h after the onset of brain infarction into two groups: 77 patients with high acute blood pressure that met the criteria of the ACCESS study and the 635 remaining patients. Underlying risk factors and comorbidities, stroke characteristics, as well as mortality, vascular events, and disability at 3 weeks were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Patients with high acute blood pressure more frequently had diabetes mellitus (p < 0.01), intracranial arterial stenosis (p < 0.02), higher levels of hemoglobin A1c (p < 0.005), higher creatinine levels (p < 0.005), and tended to more frequently have ischemic heart disease (p < 0.09) and infarcts <1.5 cm in diameter (p < 0.09) than the other patients. On multivariate analysis, high levels of hemoglobin A1c, high creatinine levels, and intracranial arterial stenosis were independently predictive of high acute blood pressure. At 3 weeks after the stroke onset, patients with high acute blood pressure were more dependent in their daily living activities (p < 0.02) and more frequently developed vascular events or death (p < 0.005) than the other patients. CONCLUSIONS: Poorly controlled diabetes mellitus and advanced renal damage appeared to correlate with acute hypertension after stroke. Since intracranial arterial stenosis also seemed to contribute to high acute blood pressure, one should be careful not to induce cerebral hypoperfusion by the early use of antihypertensives.

Changes in brain volume 2 years after extracranial-intracranial bypass surgery: A preliminary subanalysis of the Japanese EC-IC trial.

BACKGROUND AND METHODS: We studied changes in brain volume on magnetic resonance imaging in 10 patients with and without extracranial-intracranial (EC-IC) bypass surgery who met the inclusion criteria for the Japanese EC-IC Bypass Trial, a multicenter, randomized, prospective study of patients with hemodynamic brain ischemia due to cerebral artery occlusive disease. We also examined the association of cerebral hemodynamics on single-photon emission computed tomography with the changes in brain volume. RESULTS: The affected/unaffected ratio of the percent brain volume declined in patients without EC-IC bypass surgery (p < 0.02, n = 4), and the affected/unaffected percent regional cerebral blood flow ratio increased in patients with the surgery (p < 0.03, n = 6). Acetazolamide reactivity increased in the affected hemisphere of patients with surgery (p < 0.01). Two-year increase (decrease) in acetazolamide reactivity of the affected hemisphere showed a significant positive correlation with 2-year changes in the affected/unaffected percent brain volume ratio (R2 = 0.737, p = 0.0007). CONCLUSIONS: Change in acetazolamide reactivity might be a good predictor for brain atrophy in cerebral artery occlusive disease.