Sex Differences in Outcomes of Late-Window Endovascular Stroke Therapy.

BACKGROUND: The association between sex and outcome after endovascular thrombectomy of acute ischemic stroke is unclear. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical and safety outcomes between men and women treated with endovascular thrombectomy in the late 6-to-24-hour window period. METHODS: This multicenter, retrospective observational cohort study included consecutive patients who underwent endovascular thrombectomy of anterior circulation stroke in the late window from 66 clinical sites in 10 countries from January 2014 to May 2022. The primary outcome was the 90-day ordinal modified Rankin Scale score. Secondary outcomes included 90-day functional independence (FI), return of Rankin (RoR) to prestroke baseline, FI or RoR, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, and mortality. Multivariable and inverse probability of treatment weighting methods were used. We explored the interaction of sex with baseline characteristics on the outcomes ordinal modified Rankin Scale and FI or RoR. RESULTS: Of 1932 patients, 1055 were women and 877 were men. Women were older (77 versus 69 years), had higher rates of atrial fibrillation, hypertension, and greater prestroke disability, but there was no difference in baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score. Inverse probability of treatment weighting analysis showed no difference between women and men in ordinal modified Rankin Scale (odds ratio, 0.98 [95% CI, 0.79-1.21]), FI or RoR (odds ratio, 0.98 [95% CI, 0.78-1.22]), severe disability or mortality (odds ratio, 0.99 [95% CI, 0.80-1.23]). The multivariable analysis of the above end points was concordant. There were no interactions between baseline characteristics and sex on the outcomes of ordinal modified Rankin Scale and FI or RoR. CONCLUSIONS: In late presenting patients with anterior circulation stroke treated with endovascular thrombectomy in the 6 to 24-hour window, there was no difference in clinical or safety outcomes between men and women.

Recanalization status and temporal evolution of early ischemic changes following stroke thrombectomy.

INTRODUCTION: Present-day computer tomography (CT) scanners have excellent spatial resolution and signal-to-noise ratio and are instrumental detecting early ischemic changes (EIC) in brain. We assessed the temporal changes of EIC based on the recanalization status after thrombectomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The cohort comprises consecutive patients with acute ischemic stroke in anterior circulation treated with thrombectomy in tertiary referral hospital. All baseline and follow-up scans were screened for any ischemic changes and further classified using Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS). Generalized linear mixed models were used to analyze the impact of recanalization status using modified Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (mTICI) on temporal evolution of ischemic changes. RESULTS: We included 614 patients with ICA, M1, or M2 occlusions. Median ASPECTS score was 9 (IQR 7-10) at baseline and 7 (5-8) at approximately 24 h. mTICI 3 was achieved in 207 (33.8%), 2B 241 (39.3%), 2A in 77 (12.6%), and 0-1 in 88 (14.3%) patients. Compared to patients with mTICI 3, those with mTICI 0-1 and 2A had less favorable temporal changes of ASPECTS (p < 0.001). Effect of recanalization was noted in the cortical regions of ICA/M1 patients, but not in their deep structures or patients with M2 occlusions. All ischemic changes detected at baseline were also present at all follow-up images, regardless of the recanalization status. CONCLUSIONS: Temporal evolution of the ischemic changes and ASPECTS are related to the success of the recanalization therapy in cortical regions of ICA/M1 patients, but not in their deep brain structures or M2 patients. In none of the patients did EIC revert in any brain region after successful recanalization.

Thrombectomy in Acute Ischemic Stroke in the Extended Time Window: Real-Life Experience in a High-Volume Center.

OBJECTIVES: Selected patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) caused by proximal middle cerebral artery (MCA) or internal carotid artery occlusion benefit from endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) in extended time window (6-24 h from last seen well) based on two landmark randomized controlled trials (RCTs) DAWN and DEFUSE-3. We evaluated patients' outcome in the real-life with the focus on adherence to protocol of the two RCTs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included consecutive patients with AIS (excluding basilar artery occlusions) referred to EVT in our stroke center in the extended time window between January 2018 and December 2019 and compared the outcome of patients who fulfilled criteria of the RCTs with those who did not. RESULTS: Of the total of 100 patients, 23 complied with RCT's criteria and 18 presented with minor non-adherence (lower NIHSS score or longer treatment delay), whereas 22 patients had large baseline ischemia (>1/3 MCA), 28 presented with M2 and more distal occlusions, and 9 patients did not undergo perfusion imaging prior to EVT. Good 3-month outcome (modified Rankin Scale 0-2) was observed in 54% of those who either met the RCT criteria or presented with lower NIHSS score or longer treatment delay, but only in 30% of M2 occlusions, and in none of the patients with large baseline ischemia. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings highlight the impact of mostly large baseline ischemia but also vessel status when selecting patients for EVT in the extended time window and emphasize the need for further data in these patient subgroups.

Recanalization treatment for acute ischemic stroke: 3-month outcome before and after implementation of routine endovascular treatment.

Background and purpose: Endovascular treatment for acute ischemic stroke has become a recommended treatment option for selected patients after several randomized controlled trials have shown the effectiveness of endovascular treatment. Due to the nature of randomized clinical trials, the generalizability to population based real life settings and the resulting benefits remain difficult to estimate. Methods: We included 896 consecutive patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis (IVT) within 4.5 h of stroke onset between January 2016 and December 2018, who were treated with additional endovascular treatment according to the new evidence when indicated (new-IVT-cohort). This cohort was compared to 913 intravenous thrombolysis patients treated in the 4.5 h time-window between January 2011 and December 2013 before the era of endovascular treatment (old-IVT-cohort). Results: In the new-IVT-cohort there were 253 intravenous thrombolysis + endovascular treatment treated patients. The new-IVT-cohort was associated with a better outcome on the modified Rankin Scale at 3 months in univariable ordinal regression (OR 1.27; 95% CI 1.08-1.49). The association remained significant (OR 1.65; 95% CI 1.27-2.14) also after adjustment for following confounding factors: sex, NIHSS, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, hypertension, coronary artery disease, hypercholesterolemia, myocardial infarction, heart failure, history of ischemic stroke, history of TIA, and use of antithrombotic, statins, antihypertensive, anticoagulation treatment, or endovascular treatment (Fig. 1). Conclusion: We were able to verify the efficacy of endovascular treatment in a real life cohort of intravenous thrombolysis patients even when only 28% of the patients are eligible for endovascular treatment on top of intravenous thrombolysis treatment.

Drug-Coated versus Plain Balloon Angioplasty in Bypass Vein Grafts (the DRECOREST I-Study).

BACKGROUND: Stenosis is a known complication in bypass vein grafts for peripheral arterial disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of drug-coated balloons (DCBs) in the treatment of vein graft stenoses. DCBs may prevent restenosis in arterial lesions. One small prospective and larger retrospective and registry studies have failed to show benefit from DCBs in vein grafts. Prospective data are scarce. METHODS: Sixty patients treated for primary or recurrent stenosis in venous bypass grafts were randomized to DCB (n = 30) or standard balloon angioplasty (BA) (n = 30). Follow-up was 1 year. The primary outcome measure was target lesion revascularization (TLR). Secondary outcome measures were assisted primary patency and secondary patency and graft occlusion. RESULTS: Fifty-seven patients were analyzed. Three patients were excluded due to primary technical failure (2 DCB, 1 BA). Overall TLR rate was 34.5% and 46.4% in the DCB and BA groups, respectively (P = 0.33). Five (8.8%) grafts occluded during follow-up (1 DCB, 4 BA). Assisted primary patency was 93.1% (DCB) versus 85.7% (BA) (P = 0.362) and secondary patency was 100% (DCB) versus 89.3% (BA) (P = 0.076). Subgroup analysis showed a significant benefit from DCB in the treatment of primary stenosis (TLR rate 15.0% vs. 18.9%, P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: There was no significant benefit from DCBs for treatment of vein graft stenosis compared to BA, although a trend in favor of DCBs could be seen. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.govNCT03023098.