Clinical Impact and Predictors of Diffusion Weighted Imaging (DWI) Reversal in Stroke Patients with Diffusion Weighted Imaging Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score 0-5 Treated by Thrombectomy : Diffusion Weighted Imaging Reversal in Large Volume Stroke.

PURPOSE: To determine whether reversal of DWI lesions (DWIr) on the DWI-ASPECTS (diffusion weighted imaging Alberta Stroke Program CT Score) template should serve as a predictor of 90-day clinical outcome in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients with pretreatment diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI)-ASPECTS 0-5 treated with thrombectomy, and to determine its predictors in current practice. METHODS: We analyzed data of all consecutive patients included in the prospective multicenter national Endovascular Treatment in Ischemic Stroke Registry between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2020 with a premorbid mRS ≤ 2, who presented with a pretreatment DWI-ASPECTS 0-5 score, underwent thrombectomy and had an available 24 h post-interventional MRI follow-up. Multivariable analyses were performed to evaluate the clinical impact of DWIr on early neurological improvement (ENI), 3­month modified Rankin scale (mRS) score distribution (shift analysis) and to define independent predictors of DWIr. RESULTS: Early neurological improvement was detected in 82/211 (41.7%) of patients while 3­month functional independence was achieved by 75 (35.5%) patients. The DWI reversal (39/211, 18.9%) resulted an independent predictor of both ENI (aOR 3.6, 95% CI 1.2-7.7; p 0.018) and 3­month clinical outcome (aOR for mRS shift: 2.2, 95% CI 1-4.6; p 0.030). Only successful recanalization (mTICI 2c-3) independently predicted DWIr in the studied population (aOR 3.3, 95% CI 1.3-7.9; p 0.009). CONCLUSION: The DWI reversal occurs in a non-negligible proportion of DWI-ASPECTS 0-5 patients subjected to thrombectomy and significantly influences clinical outcome. The mTICI 2c-3 recanalization emerged as an independent DWIr predictor.