FLAIR vascular hyperintensity combined with asymmetrical prominent veins in acute anterior circulation ischemic stroke: prediction of collateral circulation and clinical outcome.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the value of fluid-attenuated inversion recovery vascular hyperintensity (FVH) within asymmetrical prominent veins sign (APVS) on susceptibility-weighted imaging predicting collateral circulation and prognosis in patients with acute anterior circulation ischemic stroke. METHOD: Patients with severe stenosis or occlusion of ICA or MCA M1, who underwent MRI within 72 h from stroke onset were reviewed. The Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score was used to evaluate the volume of infarction on DWI, the degree of FVH and APVS. Spearman correlation analysis was used to evaluate the correlation between FVH and APVS. All patients were divided into the good prognosis group and the poor prognosis group according to the score of the modified ranking scale (mRS) 90 days after the stroke. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the relationship between FVH and APVS and functional prognosis, while receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were plotted to assess the value of FVH and APVS in predicting prognosis. RESULTS: Spearman correlation analysis revealed moderate positive correlations between FVH and APVS (r = 0.586, P < 0.001). The poor prognosis group had a higher rate of a history of atrial fibrillation, a larger cerebral infarction volume, a higher NIHSS score at admission, and a higher FVH and APVS score compared with the good prognosis group (all P < 0.05). A further logistic regression indicated that the NIHSS score, cerebral infarction volume, FVH and APVS were independent risk factors for a poor functional prognosis. In terms of FVH, APVS, alone and their combination for the diagnosis of poor prognosis, the sensitivity, specificity, area under the ROC curve (AUC), and 95% confidence interval (CI) were 86.8%, 83.3%, 0.899 (95% CI 0.830-0.968); 60.5%, 93.7%, 0.818 (95% CI 0.723-0.912); 86.8%, 89.6%, 0.921 (95% CI 0.860-0.981), respectively. CONCLUSION: The presence of FVH and APVS can provide a comprehensive assessment of collateral circulation from the perspective of veins and arteries, and the correlation between the two is positively correlated. Both of them were independent risk factors for poor prognosis, their combination is complementary and can improve the predictive value.

Prominent veins sign is associated with malignant cerebral edema after acute ischemic stroke.

Malignant cerebral edema (MCE) is often associated with severe physical disability and a high mortality rate. The current prediction of MCE is focused on infarct volume, and tools are relatively lacking. The prominent veins sign (PVS-SWI) is considered a marker of severely impaired tissue perfusion. This study aimed to determine whether PVS-SWI is associated with early-onset MCE. Patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to severe large arterial stenosis or occlusion (SLASO) from June 2018 to June 2020 were included. The ASPECTS score assessed the extent of PVS-SWI, and 4-10 was defined as a positive group. The primary outcome was MCE, defined as the deterioration of neurological function and midline structural excursions of >5 mm during hospitalization. The secondary outcomes included worsening of the NIHSS by ≥ 2 points, in-hospital death, and death within 1 year after stroke. Logistic regression was used to assess the correlation between PVS-SWI and outcomes. The study included 157 patients， 40 (25.5%) of whom developed MCE. PVS-SWI was more prevalent in patients who developed MCE (75.0% vs 45.3%; P = 0.001). In multivariate regression analysis, PVS-SWI was an independent predictor of MCE development in patients with larger infarct sizes (OR: 4.00， 95%CI: 1.54-10.35，p = 0.004). In patients with small infarct sizes, PVS-SWI was an independent predictor of a worsening NIHSS of ≥2(OR: 11.13， 95%CI: 2.26-54.89， p = 0.003）. However, PVS-SWI was not associated with death. The main finding of our study was that in patients with larger infarct sizes, a positive PVS-SWI increased the risk of developing MCE. In these patients, more interventions may be needed.

Prognostic value of susceptibility-weighted imaging of prominent veins in acute ischemic stroke: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The prominent veins sign (PVS) on susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) has been suggested to be related to the prognosis of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS). This meta-analysis aims to clarify the association between PVS and the prognosis of patients with AIS. Methods: This meta-analysis was registered in PROSPERO (no. CRD42022343795). We performed systematic research in PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases for studies investigating the prognostic value of PVS. Based on the enrolled studies, patients were divided into two groups as follows: those with PVS cohort and those without PVS cohort. Outcomes were unfavorable functional outcome, early neurological deterioration (END), and hemorrhagic transformation (HT). The random-effects models were used for the meta-analytical pooled. Heterogeneity was estimated using Cochran's Q-test and I 2 value. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were also performed to explore the potential sources of heterogeneity. Publication bias was assessed with funnel plots and using Begger's and Egger's tests. Results: A total of 19 studies with 1,867 patients were included. PVS was correlated with an unfavorable functional outcome in patients with AIS (risk ratio [RR] 1.61, 95% CI 1.28-2.02), especially in those receiving recanalization therapy (RR 2.00, 95% CI 1.52-2.63), but not in those treated conservatively (RR 1.33, 95% CI 0.87-2.04). Moreover, PVS was related to END (RR 2.77, 95% CI 2.21-3.46), while without an increased risk of HT (RR 0.97, 95% CI 0.64-1.47). Conclusion: PVS was associated with an unfavorable prognosis of patients with AIS and increased the risk of END, while not correlated with an increased risk of HT. PVS might be useful for predicting functional outcomes of patients with AIS as a novel imaging maker. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier: CRD42022343795.

The role of asymmetrical prominent veins sign in early neurological deterioration of acute ischemic stroke patients.

Background and purpose: Asymmetrical prominent veins sign (APVS) often appears on susceptibility-weighted angiography (SWAN) images in patients with acute stroke. Early neurological deterioration (END) is highly correlated with survival prognosis in patients with ischemic stroke. This study sought to explore the relationship between APVS and END in patients with acute stroke. Methods: The subjects retrospectively enrolled in this study were patients with acute ischemic stroke in the middle cerebral artery supply area. All patients underwent head MRI, including the SWAN sequence, within 7 days of stroke symptom onset. END was defined as clinical deterioration or recurrence within 72 h after ischemic stroke. The volume of infarction on diffusion-weighted imaging was measured. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to analyze the relationship between APVS and END. Spearman correlation between APVS grades and infarct volume, white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volume, and offending vessel were also analyzed. Results: A total of 157 patients with middle cerebral artery infarct between September 2018 and April 2020 were included in the study. APVS appeared on MRI in 84 of 157 patients, and 34 of 157 patients were diagnosed with END. In patients with END, the proportion of severe APVS was higher than in patients without END (P = 0.001, x 2 = 14.659). Patients with END were older and had a larger volume of infarct and WMH than patients without END (all P < 0.05). After adjustments were made for related risk factors of END, the severity of APVS was still related to END (OR = 2.56, 95% CI, 1.38-4.75; P for trend = 0.003). Spearman correlation showed that APVS grades were positively related to infarct volume (r = 0.289, P < 0.001) and 3-month modified Rankin Scale score (r = 0.203, P = 0.011) and negatively related to offending vessels (r = -0.170, P = 0.034). Conclusion: APVS may be an important predictor of END in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

The Prognostic Impact of Susceptibility-Weighted Imaging Prominent Veins in Acute Ischemic Stroke: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

PURPOSE: We aimed to determine the prognostic impact of prominent veins (PVS) after an acute ischemic stroke identified on susceptibility-weighted imaging (PVS-SWI). METHODS: We searched for studies published in PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database. Poor functional prognosis, early neurological deterioration, and hemorrhagic transformation were evaluated. Risk ratios (RR) were pooled implementing a random effect model. We performed a subgroup analysis by treatment, location (cortical/medullary) and a sensitivity analysis by follow-up time. RESULTS: Sixteen studies were included (a total of 1605 patients) in the quantitative meta-analysis. PVS-SWI were related with a poor functional outcome (RR 1.62, 95% CI 1.25 to 2.10), especially in the patients receiving thrombolysis (RR 2.19, 95% CI 1.53 to 3.15) and an augmented risk of early neurological damage (RR 2.85, 95% CI 2.31 to 3.51). Both cortical and medullary prominent veins were accompanied by a poor functional outcome (RR 1.82, 95% CI 1.30 to 2.56/RR 2.59, 95% CI 1.98 to 3.38). PVS-SWI were not associated with poor functional outcomes when patients were treated conservatively (RR 1.35, 95% CI 0.82 to 2.22), or with an increased risk of hemorrhagic transformation (RR 0.97, 95% CI 0.64 to 1.47). CONCLUSION: PVS-SWI were related to a poor functional prognosis and an increased risk of early neurological damage. In patients treated conservatively, PVS-SWI were not accompanied by a poor prognosis. PVS-SWI were not associated with an augmented risk of hemorrhagic transformation.

Clinical report: one year of treatment of Proteus syndrome with miransertib (ARQ 092).

A 20-yr-old man with Proteus syndrome (PS) and somatic mosaicism of the AKT1 c.49G > A p.(E17K) variant had asymmetric overgrowth of the right frontal and facial bones, asymmetric spinal overgrowth with thoracolumbar scoliosis, dilatation of the inferior vena cava, testicular cystadenoma, bilateral knee deformities, macrodactyly, and apparent intellectual disability. Miransertib (ARQ 092) is an oral, allosteric, selective pan-AKT inhibitor initially developed for cancer therapeutics, now being evaluated for the treatment of PS. After baseline evaluation, the patient started unblinded treatment of 10 mg oral miransertib daily (∼5 mg/m2/day), escalated to 30 mg daily (∼15 mg/m2/day), and then to 50 mg daily (∼25 mg/m2/day) after 3 mo of treatment. Adverse events included dry mouth, one episode of gingivostomatitis, and loose, painful dentition due to preexisting periodontal disease, all of which resolved spontaneously. After 11 mo of treatment, the patient reported improved general well-being, increased mobility of the ankle, spine, and hands, a subjective decrease in size of the right facial bone overgrowth, and reduced areas of cerebriform connective tissue nevi on the soles. Whole-body MRI findings were stable without apparent disease progression. We conclude that 1 yr of treatment with miransertib was beneficial in this case.

Mapping the ischemic penumbra and predicting stroke progression in acute ischemic stroke: the overlooked role of susceptibility weighted imaging.

OBJECTIVES: Asymmetrically prominent veins (APVs) detected on susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) in acute stroke patients are assumed to signify compromised cerebral perfusion. We aimed to explore the role of APVs in identifying the ischemic penumbra and predicting stroke progression in acute stroke patients METHODS: Twenty patients with a middle cerebral artery ischemic infarction presenting within 24 h of symptoms onset underwent SWI following our standard MR stroke protocol imaging sequences which included diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). Follow-up (FUP) FLAIR images were obtained at least 5 days after the initial MRI study. The Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) was used to determine the initial infarct size, extent of APVs and final infarct size on initial DWI, SWI, and FUP images respectively. For each patient, SWI was compared with DWI images to determine match/mismatch of their respective ASPECTS values and calculate mismatch scores, whereas acute DWI findings were compared with follow-up images to identify infarct growth (IG) and calculate infarction growth scores (IGS). RESULTS: IG occurred in 6/10 patients with a positive DWI-SWI mismatch and in none of the patients without a positive DWI-SWI mismatch. A positive DWI/SWI mismatch was significantly associated with IG (χ2 = 8.57, p = 0.0138, Cramer's V = 0.65). A significant inverse correlation was found between SWI ASPECTS and IGS (rs = - 0.702, p = 0.001). DWI-SWI mismatch scores were strongly correlated with IGS. (rs = 0.788, p = 0.000) CONCLUSION: A positive DWI-SWI mismatch is an indicator of the ischemic penumbra and a predictor of infarct expansion if left untreated.

Susceptibility-Diffusion Mismatch in Hyperacute Stroke: Correlation with Perfusion-Diffusion Mismatch and Clinical Outcome.

BACKGROUND: A prominent vein (PV) on susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) was recently proposed to be a marker of the penumbra. We aimed to compare the utility of SWI and perfusion-weighted imaging (PWI) sequences for the evaluation of the penumbra in hyperacute middle cerebral artery (MCA) stroke, and to determine whether SWI-DWI mismatch is a neuroimaging marker of clinical outcome. METHODS: A total of 149 consecutive patients with MCA stroke were prospectively enrolled. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed within 6 hours of the onset of stroke. The ASPECTS values on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), PWI (delayed mean transit time), and SWI (visualization of PVs) were calculated by 2 independent raters. Correlation between PWI-ASPECTS and SWI-ASPECTS was calculated with the Pearson coefficient. Reliability of the PV rating system was calculated by an intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Favorable outcome was defined as a modified Rankin Scale score of 0-2 at 3 months for the 88 patients who received thrombolytic therapy. RESULTS: The ASPECTS-SWI and ASPECTS-PWI scores showed a good correlation (Pearson coefficient of .69, P <.001). The reproducibility between the findings of the junior and the senior radiologists was excellent with an ICC of .89 (confidence interval of 95% (IC95): .85-.92, P <.001). However, neither SWI-DWI mismatch nor PWI-SWI mismatch was associated with clinical outcome. CONCLUSION: SWI and PWI were complementary but not commutable for the assessment of the penumbra. Susceptibility-diffusion mismatch was not found in this study to have predictive value for stroke outcome.