Erythrocyte-rich thrombi related to serum iron contribute to single stent retrieval and favorable clinical outcomes in acute ischemic stroke by endovascular treatment.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Erythrocyte-rich thrombi seem to be associated with favorable clinical outcomes of patients with AIS by endovascular treatment (EVT), as observed from previous studies. However, only few studies show whether erythrocyte-rich thrombi can be associated with favorable clinical outcomes by EVT and which factor can be related to erythrocyte-rich thrombi. This retrospective study aimed to evaluate the relationship between erythrocyte-rich thrombi and favorable clinical outcomes and further explored factors associated with erythrocyte-rich thrombi. METHODS: This study was carried out retrospectively from March 2016 to April 2019 on patients who suffered acute ischemic stroke and were treated by EVT at this stroke center. The laboratory test and clinical data were assessed for the relationship between erythrocyte-rich thrombi and favorable clinical outcomes and factors associated with erythrocyte-rich thrombi. All thrombi were divided into erythrocyte-rich thrombi group and fibrin-rich thrombi group based on the proportion of area of the predominant composition which was more than 50% in retrieved thrombi. RESULTS: This retrospective study enrolled 84 patients, including 32 patients in the erythrocyte-rich thrombi group and 52 patients in the fibrin-rich thrombi group. It showed single stent retrieval (p = 0.017, adjusted OR 4.061, 95% CI 1.281-12.872) and favorable clinical outcomes (p < 0.001, adjusted OR 14.648, 95% CI 4.637-46.270) were both significantly associated with erythrocyte-rich thrombi. A significant difference in the factor associated with erythrocyte-rich thrombi was serum iron, which correlated positively with erythrocyte fraction in thrombi (p < 0.001, r 0.452). CONCLUSIONS: Erythrocyte-rich thrombi could contribute to single stent retrieval and favorable clinical outcomes by EVT, and serum iron might be the factor associated with erythrocyte-rich thrombi.