Pentraxin-3 in Thrombolytic Therapy for Acute Ischemic Stroke: No Relation with Curative Effect and Prognosis.

BACKGROUND Pentraxin-3 (PTX3) is considered a high quality inflammatory marker of the severity and prognosis of several diseases, however, the value of PTX3 in thrombolytic therapy for acute ischemic stroke remains unclear and PTX3 is still controversial in evaluating the prognosis of stroke patients. In this study, we investigated the association of PTX3 with thrombolytic therapy in patients with acute ischemic stroke. MATERIAL AND METHODS Forty-seven stroke patients who received thrombolytic therapy within 4.5 hours after symptom onset were enrolled consecutively between July 2016 and June 2017. All the patients underwent multiphase CTA (computerized tomography angiography) or CT perfusion before thrombolysis with no indication for endovascular treatment. Initial and 24 hours of National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores and serum PTX3 level, stroke risk factors and predictors, and mRS (modified Rankin scale) at 3 months were collected prospectively. Predictors of thrombolytic therapy effect and long-term prognosis were investigated by univariate and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS The 24 hour NIHSS score and the treatment time was associated with symptom improvement, while the PTX3 level had no association with neurological improvement and prognosis in stroke patients receiving thrombolytic therapy. CONCLUSIONS PTX3 is not suitable to serve as an indicator of thrombolytic efficacy and had no association with long-term prognosis in stroke patients receiving thrombolytic therapy.

Clinical Study of Intracranial and Extracranial Atherosclerotic Stenosis in Spontaneous Intracerebral Hemorrhage Patients.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Nowadays, researchers had begun to focus on the use of antiplatelet and statins in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH), but atherosclerosis treatment remains uncertain in these patients. We aimed to investigate the incidence and characteristics of intracranial and extracranial atherosclerotic stenosis in these patients and analyze its related risk factors. METHODS: Intracranial and extracranial arteries of consecutive patients with sICH were studied retrospectively with computed tomography angiography of head and neck. The risk factors, severity, and distribution of atherosclerotic stenosis were examined and analyzed. RESULTS: We included 226 patients with sICH, of whom 110 patients (48.7%) had atherosclerotic stenosis. Of the patients, 57 (51.8%) had intracranial stenosis and 75 (68.2%) had multiple stenosis. A total of 1870 vessels were examined and 287 vessels (15.3%) had atherosclerotic stenosis, of which 217 cases (75.6%) were mild stenosis. Intracranial and extracranial atherosclerosis was more likely to be found in patients with advanced age (P < .001), diabetes mellitus (P = .008), non-deep hemorrhage (P = .011). CONCLUSIONS: Atherosclerotic stenosis is common in patients with sICH, and is characterized by mild stenosis and the involvement of multiple sites. The stenosis of the vertebrobasilar system is relatively severe. Advanced age, diabetes mellitus, and non-deep bleeding are its related risks.