Cerebral autoregulation: A reliable predictor of prognosis in patients receiving intravenous thrombolysis.

AIMS: To investigate the characteristics of dynamic cerebral autoregulation (dCA) after intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) and assess the relationship between dCA and prognosis. METHODS: Patients with unilateral acute ischemic stroke receiving IVT were prospectively enrolled; those who did not were selected as controls. All patients underwent dCA measurements, by quantifying the phase difference (PD) and gain, at 1-3 and 7-10 days after stroke onset. Simultaneously, two dCA-based nomogram models were established to verify the predictive value of dCA for patients with mild-to-moderate stroke. RESULTS: Finally, 202 patients who received IVT and 238 who did not were included. IVT was positively correlated with higher PD on days 1-3 and 7-10 after stroke onset. PD values in both sides at 1-3 days after stroke onset and in the affected side at 7-10 days after onset were independent predictors of unfavorable outcomes in patients who received IVT. Additionally, in patients with mild-to-moderate stroke who received IVT, the dCA-based nomogram models significantly improved the risk predictive ability for 3-month unfavorable outcomes. CONCLUSION: IVT has a positive effect on dCA in patients with acute stroke; furthermore, dCA may be useful to predict the prognosis of patients with IVT.

Factors Associated with Poor Outcomes in Patients Undergoing Endovascular Therapy for Acute Ischemic Stroke due to Large-Vessel Occlusion in Acute Anterior Circulation: A Retrospective Study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate factors associated with poor clinical outcomes in patients with acute ischemic stroke undergoing endovascular therapy. METHODS: A retrospective review of 265 patients with acute ischemic stroke treated in the First Hospital of Jilin University between January 1, 2016, and November 1, 2019, was performed. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with a modified Rankin score of 0-2 at 90 days. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to assess potential clinical factors associated with a poor 90-day outcome. RESULTS: The rates of successful revascularization, good prognosis, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, and mortality were 84.5%, 46.0%, 9.8%, and 12.8%, respectively. As per univariate analysis, age, diagnosis of atrial fibrillation, diagnosis of diabetes, high baseline glucose level, tandem occlusion, high National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score at admission, general anesthesia, number of passes, high NIHSS score on discharge, unsuccessful recanalization (modified treatment in cerebral ischemia score <2b), and development of symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, hemorrhagic infarction, parenchymal hematoma, and subarachnoid hemorrhage were associated with poor prognosis. Tobacco use was positive in correlation with good prognosis in univariate analysis. Diabetes, tandem occlusion, high NIHSS score at admission, and general anesthesia were independent factors associated with a poor 90-day outcome in multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetes, tandem occlusion, high NIHSS score at admission, and general anesthesia were independent risk factors associated with a poor 90-day outcome and should be considered a reference by neurointerventionalists in guiding their clinical decision-making.

Effects of Early Changes in Blood Pressure During Intravenous Thrombolysis on the Prognosis of Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients.

Background: Intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) therapy is currently one of the best medical treatments available for patients with acute ischemic stroke. Studies have shown that blood pressure (BP) changes in patients treated with IVT are significantly correlated with prognosis. Objective: Our study aimed to determine the relationship between BP changes during recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) infusion and the 3-month prognosis evaluated using the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and determine the factors influencing BP changes during rt-PA infusion. Methods: Consecutive patients who were treated with IVT and admitted to our stroke center between May 2015 and October 2017 were analyzed retrospectively. Patients were divided into two groups according to their 3-month prognosis status: patients with mRS ≤ 2 were defined as "favorable outcome group" and those with mRS ≥ 3 as "unfavorable outcome group". First, the factors affecting prognosis after thrombolysis were analyzed. Second, we analyzed the relationship between BP and the prognosis. BP was taken before and at regular intervals of 15 min during the rt-PA infusion (1 h). The average value of BP during thrombolysis was calculated and compared to the baseline BP. BP decrease was defined as the difference between the baseline BP and the average BP, provided it was greater than 0 mmHg. Third, univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify factors that may contribute to BP decrease. Results: In total, 458 patients were included. Patients with a lower baseline National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score (8.25 ± 5.57 vs. 13.51 ± 7.42, P < 0.001), a higher Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS; 8.65 ± 1.82 vs. 8.13 ± 2.00, P = 0.005), decreased BP during thrombolysis (69.4% vs. 59.8%, P = 0.037), and steady BP (SD < 10 mmHg) were more likely to have a favorable outcome (73.9% vs. 60.6%, P = 0.019). High baseline BP (OR > 1), hypertension history (OR < 1), and baseline ASPECTS (OR > 1) were independent factors of BP change during thrombolysis. Conclusion: Patients with decreased or steady BP during thrombolysis were more likely to have a favorable outcome. Baseline ASPECTS, baseline NIHSS score, and hypertension history influenced BP changes during thrombolysis.

The Therapeutic Effects of Endovascular Therapy with mTICI2b and 3 Recanalization for Acute Anterior Circulation Stroke Patients.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (mTICI)2b/3 has been considered the criterion for successful reperfusion in endovascular treatment. This study aimed to compare the therapeutic safety and efficacy of mTICI2b and mTICI3 recanalization, and to analyze the factors related to outcomes in everyday clinical practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a single-center retrospective analysis of 224 patients who underwent successful thrombectomy (achieving a mTICI score ≥2b). The primary outcomes included a modified Rankin score (mRS) of 0-2 at 90-day, mortality, and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage. RESULTS: A total of 111 patients achieved mTICI2b status (49.6%), and 113 achieved mTICI3 status (50.4%). The comparison between mTICI2b and 3 reperfusions showed no differences in short-term outcomes, 90-day mRS, complications, and mortality. There was a trend toward more passes in mTICI2b patients, although the difference was not significant. The univariate analysis showed that poor outcomes after endovascular treatment were associated with older age, previous history of coronary heart disease, atrial fibrillation, diabetes, tandem occlusions, high National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score on admission, and general anesthesia. A previous history of coronary heart disease, a high NIHSS score on admission, and the use of general anesthesia were independent factors that affected the therapeutic effects. CONCLUSION: The superiority (efficacy and safety) of mTICI3 reperfusion was not significant compared with that of mTICI2b reperfusion. Prolonged efforts to achieve mTICI3 after achieving mTICI2b should be considered prudently for those with difficulty achieving 100% reperfusion.