Contraindications to intravenous thrombolysis in prehospital triage of thrombectomy candidates.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The existence of contraindications to intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) is considered a criterion for direct transfer of patients with suspected acute stroke to thrombectomy-capable centers in the prehospital setting. Our aim was to assess the utility of this criterion in a setting where routing protocols are defined by the Madrid - Direct Referral to Endovascular Center (M-DIRECT) prehospital scale. METHODS: This was a post hoc analysis of the M-DIRECT study. Reported contraindications to IVT were retrospectively collected from emergency medical services reports and categorized into late window, anticoagulant treatment and other contraindications. Final diagnosis and treatment rates were compared between patients with and without reported IVT contraindications and according to anticoagulant treatment or late window categories. RESULTS: The M-DIRECT study included 541 patients. Reported IVT contraindications were present in 227 (42.0%) patients. Regarding final diagnosis no significant differences were found between patients with or without reported IVT contraindications: ischaemic stroke (any) 65.6% vs. 62.1%, ischaemic stroke with large vessel occlusion (LVO) 32.2% vs. 28.3%, hemorrhagic stroke 15.4% vs. 15.6%, stroke mimic 18.9% vs. 22.3% respectively. Amongst patients with LVO, endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) was performed less often in the presence of IVT contraindications (56.2% vs. 74.2%). M-DIRECT-positive patients had higher rates of LVO and EVT compared with M-DIRECT-negative patients independent of reported IVT contraindications. CONCLUSIONS: Reported IVT contraindications alone do not increase EVT likelihood and should not be considered to determine routing in urban stroke networks.

The Direct Referral to Endovascular Center criteria: a proposal for pre-hospital evaluation of acute stroke in the Madrid Stroke Network.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: For patients with acute ischaemic stroke due to large-vessel occlusion, it has recently been shown that mechanical thrombectomy (MT) with stent retrievers is better than medical treatment alone. However, few hospitals can provide MT 24 h/day 365 days/year, and it remains unclear whether selected patients with acute stroke should be directly transferred to the nearest MT-providing hospital to prevent treatment delays. Clinical scales such as Rapid Arterial Occlusion Evaluation (RACE) have been developed to predict large-vessel occlusion at a pre-hospital level, but their predictive value for MT is low. We propose new criteria to identify patients eligible for MT, with higher accuracy. METHODS: The Direct Referral to Endovascular Center criteria were defined based on a retrospective cohort of 317 patients admitted to a stroke center. The association of age, sex, RACE scale score and blood pressure with the likelihood of receiving MT were analyzed. Cut-off points with the highest association were thereafter evaluated in a prospective cohort of 153 patients from nine stroke units comprising the Madrid Stroke Network. RESULTS: Patients with a RACE scale score ≥ 5, systolic blood pressure <190 mmHg and age <81 years showed a significantly higher probability of undergoing MT (odds ratio, 33.38; 95% confidence interval, 12-92.9). This outcome was confirmed in the prospective cohort, with 68% sensitivity, 84% specificity, 42% positive and 94% negative predictive values for MT, ruling out 83% of hemorrhagic strokes. CONCLUSIONS: The Direct Referral to Endovascular Center criteria could be useful for identifying patients suitable for MT.

[Endovascular treatment in acute ischaemic stroke. A stroke care plan for the region of Madrid]. / Tratamiento endovascular en el ictus isquémico agudo. Plan de Atención al Ictus en la Comunidad de Madrid.

INTRODUCTION: Endovascular therapies (intra-arterial thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy) after acute ischaemic stroke are being implemented in the clinical setting even as they are still being researched. Since we lack sufficient data to establish accurate evidence-based recommendations for use of these treatments, we must develop clinical protocols based on current knowledge and carefully monitor all procedures. DEVELOPMENT: After review of the literature and holding work sessions to reach a consensus among experts, we developed a clinical protocol including indications and contraindications for endovascular therapies use in acute ischaemic stroke. The protocol includes methodology recommendations for diagnosing and selecting patients, performing revascularisation procedures, and for subsequent patient management. Its objective is to increase the likelihood of efficacy and treatment benefit and minimise risk of complications and ineffective recanalisation. Based on an analysis of healthcare needs and available resources, a cooperative inter-hospital care system has been developed. This helps to ensure availability of endovascular therapies to all patients, a fast response time, and a good cost-to-efficacy ratio. It includes also a prospective register which serves to monitor procedures in order to identify any opportunities for improvement. CONCLUSIONS: Implementation of endovascular techniques for treating acute ischaemic stroke requires the elaboration of evidence-based clinical protocols and the establishment of appropriate cooperative healthcare networks guaranteeing both the availability and the quality of these actions. Such procedures must be monitored in order to improve methodology.

[Cardioembolic stroke: epidemiology]. / Ictus cardioembólico: epidemiología.

Approximately one in four ischemic strokes is of cardioembolic origin. Non-valvular atrial fibrillation accounts for 50% of these cases, followed by myocardial infarction, intraventricular thrombus, valvular heart disease and a miscellany of causes. The incidence of embolic heart disease in the population could be about 30 cases per 100,000 inhabitants per year, and its prevalence between 5 and 10 cases per 1,000 persons aged 65 years or older. Hospital mortality is high, and 5-year survival is only one out of every five patients. The recurrence rate of this type of stroke is about 12% at 3 months, higher than that of non-cardioembolic stroke. The severity of cardioembolic strokes and the resulting disability are greater than with non-cardioembolic stroke. Age, a history of stroke or transient ischemic attack, hypertension, diabetes and heart failure play a role in stroke with atrial fibrillation as additional risk factors for future embolisms. Stroke rates can reach over 20% per year and therefore the prevention and treatment of these events are of paramount importance.

Consistency of clinical diagnosis of dementia in NEDICES: A population-based longitudinal study in Spain.

BACKGROUND: Few longitudinal studies have verified the clinical diagnosis of dementia based on clinical examinations. We evaluated the consistency of the clinical diagnosis of dementia over a period of 3 years of follow-up in a population-based, cohort study of older people in central Spain. METHODS: Individuals (N = 5278) were evaluated at baseline (1994-1995) and at follow-up (1997-1998). The evaluation included a screening questionnaire for dementia and a neurological assessment. RESULTS: Dementia screening consisted of a 37-item version of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the Pfeffer Functional Activities Questionnaire (FAQ). Study neurologists investigated those participants who screened positively (N = 713) as well as 843 who had screened negatively to test the sensitivity of the screening instruments or because they had a positive screening for other chronic neurological diseases. We detected 295 patients among those who screened positive and 13 among those who screened negatively. Three years follow-up evaluation demonstrated 14 diagnostic errors at baseline (4.5%) leading to a final number of 306 patients with dementia. The corrected prevalence of dementia was 5.8% (95% confidence interval [CI] 5.2-6.5). CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis of dementia was highly accurate in this population-based, Spanish cohort study, and our prevalence figures agree with other European surveys. Given the high cost and difficulties of population rescreening and its relatively low yield, we conclude that a single 2-phase investigation (screening followed by clinical examination) provides accurate information for most population-based prevalence studies of dementia.

[Incidence of strokes in Spain: the Iberictus study. Data from the pilot study]. / Incidencia de ictus en España: estudio Iberictus. Datos del estudio piloto.

INTRODUCTION: In a population-based study of the incidence of stroke conducted on a broad denominator, it is wise first to carry out a pilot study. AIM: To present the results of the pilot phase of the study on stroke incidence in Spain, entitled Iberictus. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Population of the study: all cases involving the first episode of acute cerebrovascular disease (stroke or transient ischaemic attack) diagnosed among residents over 17 years of age with their habitual place of abode registered in the areas of study between 15th and 31st October 2005 (total denominator: 1,440,997 inhabitants). SOURCE OF DATA: prospective, hospital records (basic minimum data set, discharge abstracts) and casualty department registers. Standardised definitions: diagnostic categorisation and pathological, topographical and aetiological classification. Inter-observer agreement analysis among researchers (kappa). RESULTS: A total of 128 cases were identified. Age range, 37-103 years; mean age, 75.7 +/- 13.4 years; 54% were females. In all, 71.1% of the cases were collected by means of a basic minimum data set. There were 91 ischaemic events (29.7% atherothrombotic and 29.7% cardioembolic). Of the 15 haemorrhagic strokes, 40% due to arterial hypertension, six were lobar hemispheric, six were deep basal ganglia, and there were three cerebellar haemorrhages. The incidence of stroke was seen to increase exponentially with age. Inter-observer agreement was good for the classifications that were employed (range of kappa indices, 0.57-0.78). Several problems were detected and corrected in the fieldwork. CONCLUSIONS: The Iberictus pilot study yielded data that were consistent with the literature and provided us with the opportunity to detect and correct issues that would hinder us from conducting the main study.

[Incidence of strokes in Spain. Methodological foundations of the Iberictus study]. / Incidencia de ictus en España. Bases metodológicas del estudio Iberictus.

INTRODUCTION: Epidemiological data on the incidence of cerebrovascular diseases in our country are scarce. A representative population-based study with a large denominator is required. AIM: To present the design of the study on stroke incidence in Spain, entitled Iberictus. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective, population-based study on the incidence of strokes and transient ischemic attacks, in which it is possible to distinguish: 1) population with a steady risk, which was well defined and had a broad denominator. We included all the cases in which the first episode of acute cerebrovascular disease was diagnosed among those over the age of 17 years (with no upper age limit) with their habitual residence in the areas of study between the 1st January and 31st December 2006: Lugo, Segovia, Talavera de la Reina, Mallorca and Almeria (total denominator, 1,440,997 inhabitants; minimum denominator per area, 100,000 inhabitants); 2) source of multiple and complementary data: hospital records (minimum basic data set, discharge abstracts), emergency and primary care records for the area with diagnostic codes 430-39 and 674.0 (International Classification of Diseases-9), population-based mortality records; 3) standardised definitions: diagnostic categorisation (MONICA-World Health Organisation, 1987), pathological classification (ischaemia, haemorrhagic), topography and aetiology; 4) presentation of data in suitable age groups, by sex and overall; 5) pilot study and analysis of inter-observer agreement among researchers. CONCLUSIONS: With this design, the Iberictus study satisfies the methodological criteria as an 'ideal' study of the incidence of acute cerebrovascular diseases proposed by Malgrem, Sudlow and Warlow, and represents a unique opportunity to further our knowledge of the epidemiology of strokes in our country.

Prevalence of stroke and transient ischemic attack in three elderly populations of central Spain.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to assess prevalence rates of cerebrovascular disease (CVD; stroke and transient ischemic attacks) according to age and gender in three populations in central Spain using data from the Neurological Disorders in Central Spain (NEDICES) study, a population-based survey of elderly participants. METHODS: Individuals from one suburban municipality of Greater Madrid (Las Margaritas neighborhood, Getafe), one urban district of Madrid (Lista) and one rural site (Arévalo county, Avila) were evaluated at baseline (n = 5,278). The evaluation included a screening questionnaire and a neurological assessment when possible. We used point prevalence with a reference date of May 1, 1994. RESULTS: Of the 5,278 subjects, there were 186 prevalent stroke cases and 71 cases of transient ischemic attacks. Prevalence rates, adjusted to the standard European populations, were 4.9% for CVD (95% confidence interval [CI] = 4.3-5.4), 3.4% for stroke (95% CI = 2.9-3.9) and 1.3% for transient ischemic attacks (95% CI = 1.0-1.6) in the total population. Age-specific prevalence rates of CVD, stroke and transient ischemic attacks increased exponentially with advancing age. The prevalence rates of CVD, stroke and transient ischemic attacks were higher for men than for women. Prevalence figures were higher in the suburban area of Margaritas compared to the rural region. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, the prevalence of stroke and transient ischemic attacks were higher in men and in urban areas. Central Spain would be a medium stroke prevalence zone.

[The NEDICES cohort of the elderly. Methodology and main neurological findings]. / La cohorte de ancianos NEDICES. Metodología y principales hallazgos neurológicos.

AIM: To summarise the methodological aspects and main findings of the NEDICES (Neurological Disorders in Central Spain) cohort study of the elderly population, with over 5000 participants. DEVELOPMENT: The article outlines the findings concerning the following chronic neurological diseases (CND): dementia, Parkinson's disease and Parkinsonisms, stroke and essential, or senile, tremor. The NEDICES study examined the health, mortality and a series of sociological aspects of the cohort that are not discussed here. The paper does describe, however, the objectives, methods, population and development, with the baseline (1994) and incidence (1997) cut-off points, and the main findings regarding the CND under study are discussed. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence and incidence of the CND are comparable to those of other Spanish and European population-based studies, but with certain peculiarities, such as the fact that incidence of senile tremor is the highest of those reported in the literature and that this CND is associated with dementia. Over half the cases of Parkinson's disease were reported de novo with the study and Alzheimer's disease was associated with vascular risk factors.

[Parkinsonism and Camptocormia with focal spinal myopathy: case report and responsiveness to treatment]. / Parkinsonismo y camptocormia con miopatia focal espinal: descripcion de un caso y respuesta al tratamiento.

INTRODUCTION: Camptocormia is characterised by extreme flexion of the thoracolumbar spine. It suffered an increase during walking and it is relieved in supine position. Camptocormia has been described in psychogenic disorders, but in other diseases, including Parkinson's disease as well. It has been recently described several cases with focal spinal myopathy, and we present a patient with this clinical association. CASE REPORT: This 82-year-old man had a 6-year history of parkinsonian symptoms, mostly of rigid-akinetic type. He was in stage 4 on Hoehn & Yahr scale, and he had reached 62 points on Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale. Over the past 6-8 months, he developed progressive forward flexion of the trunk with clinical features of camptocormia. He suffered flogotic symptoms and signs on her lower back, and there were no dystonic posture or clinical features. Lumbar computerised tomography showed fat replacement of the paravertebral L3 muscles. A surgical paravertebral muscle examination and biopsy were performed, showing diffuse fat replacement and only a marginal myopathic focus. It was made several therapeutic approaches, with levodopa dose increase, reduction, fractioning, and addition of dopa-agonists. All of these strategies failed. It was determined to try a steroid course, but there were no improvement, so physiotherapy and rehabilitation measures did. He finally was confined to wheelchair. CONCLUSIONS: Physiopathologic and therapeutic aspects of camptocormia in Parkinson's disease are unclear. Their relationship could be casual or causal. Patients with clear inflammatory myopathy could benefit from steroid therapy, but patients with end-stage myopathy probably do not so.

[An analysis of complaints received in a Neurology Service]. / Análisis de reclamaciones en un servicio de neurología.

AIMS: To determine the number of complaints received by the Neurology Service in one year, to carry out a qualitative analysis, and to examine how they are dealt with in order to provide patients with a solution. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The work involved a retrospective study of the complaints from patients in the Neurology Service throughout the year 2004, using the information provided by the Patient Advice and Liaison Service. The following quality indicators were used to evaluate how these claims were managed: the percentage of complaints that were attended in less than 30 days after being received and the percentage of complaints that were resolved. RESULTS: Throughout the period under study a total of 183 complaints were received: 1/478 hospital admissions (0.21%), 71/43,841 medical visits (0.16%), 110/5,522 neurophysiological studies (2%) and 3 due to other reasons. It was found that 90.2% of all complaints had to do with waiting lists, 3.3% were related to dealings with staff and the rest were due to other causes. 86.3% of the complaints were resolved, 10.2% were dismissed and the others were passed on or shelved. 77.5% of the claims were attended within 30 days (quality parameter), the mean delay being 21.3 days (standard deviation: 11.3). CONCLUSIONS: Our rate of complaints is low, although improvements must be introduced both quantitatively and in their management. Practically no data has been published to date concerning these aspects of clinical management in neurology services.

[Clinical reasoning in neurology]. / Razonamiento clínico en neurología.

There is much neurological literature on clinical, pathological, technical aspects of diagnostic or therapeutic aspects, however there are few articles about clinical-neurological reasoning. This paper analyzes the psychological processes by which neurologists solve complicated diagnostic problems. Clinicians can use a variety of reasoning, such as model (pattern), exhaustive, probabilistic, deterministic (categorical), and hypothetical-deductive reasoning mechanisms. The neurologist must be aware of what kind of reasoning is being used at a given time as well as the errors that can occur. Most of these errors are found in the probabilistic setting and can be grouped into three categories: representativeness errors, availability or adjustment and anchoring biases. Most of them occur due to an inadequate intuitive judgement by the physician to handle the probabilities. There are other sources of error, related with the diagnostic process or with the environmental circumstances in which they develop. The most important ones as well as their theoretical and practical implications are described. In the evidence based medicine era, it is important for the clinical neurologists to be aware of this terminology and concepts for an adequate practice of neurology.

[Brachial presentation of spinal pseudochoreoathetosis. The result of proprioceptive information being processed in parallel]. / Seudocoreoatetosis espinal de presentación braquial. Resultado del procesamiento paralelo de la información propioceptiva.

INTRODUCTION: The term pseudochoreoathetosis is used to refer to the choreoathetoid movements that are produced by alterations in the proprioceptive sensitivity due to damage it has suffered at some point along its course. Proprioceptive sensitivity is considered to go up as far as the cortex along the posterior cords of the spinal cord, which means that if they are injured in the cervical region there should be a sensory deficit in both the upper (UL) and lower limbs (LL). CASE REPORTS: We describe five cases of transverse myelitis with localised cervical injury that selectively and mainly affected the posterior cords of the spinal cord. In the five patients there was selective involvement of the proprioceptive sensitivity in the UL respecting the LL and pseudochoreoathetoid movements of the limb that has been deafferented for proprioceptive sensitivity. The dissociation between the UL and the LL occurs because the spinocerebellar and spinocervical tracts take the proprioceptive information from the LL in parallel to the posterior cords, which receive the proprioceptive sensitivity from the UL. CONCLUSIONS: At present, the most widely accepted physiopathological mechanism explaining pseudochoreoathetosis consists in a failure in the integration of the sensory-motor afferences in the striatum, which causes faulty sensory-motor integration at this level and gives rise to pseudochoreoathetosis.

[Diagnostic reasoning in neurology. An analysis of the more frequent errors]. / Razonamiento diagnóstico en neurología. Errores más comunes.

Diagnostic reasoning is a cognitive proccess that has various performance and results. There are several kinds of clinical reasoning, such as model or pattern recognizing, causal or physiopathologic reasoning, deterministic, exhaustive, and hypotetic-deductive ones. Each form of reasoning may be relevant in certain clinical context, and all of the forms are also complementary. The logical consequence of diagnostic reasoning, like every cognitive proccess, is a clinical error. It is necessary that the neurologist knows the principles of diagnostic reasoning and the more frequent errors and biases. These can be summarized as: errors associated with the proccess of taking history and clinical examination, mnesic and semantic components of clinical reasoning, failure of hipotetic- deductive reasoning, and inadequate use of probability theory in Medicine.

[Theoretical bases for the critical reading of neurological articles on diagnostic tests]. / Bases teóricas para la lectura crítica de artículos neurológicos sobre pruebas diagnósticas.

Neurologists usually order diagnostic tests in clinical practice. A growing number and sophistication of the diagnostic tests in the last decades are evident. It is necessary for the clinician to know the operative functioning and accuracy of such tools. In addition, when reading a scientific paper about diagnostic test, the neurologist must pay attention to some methodological questions. These can be summarized as: a) blind and independent comparison between test result and gold standard, b) adequate gold standard, c) diagnostic test must be applied in appropriate spectrum of the disease, d) to appraise possible selection bias, and e) sufficient description of methodology, so it allow to replicate the study. Moreover, the evaluation should include data about test utility, and explain risk-benefit balance for the patients in whom it is used.