Trial of Thrombectomy 6 to 24 Hours after Stroke Due to Basilar-Artery Occlusion.

BACKGROUND: The effects and risks of endovascular thrombectomy 6 to 24 hours after stroke onset due to basilar-artery occlusion have not been extensively studied. METHODS: In a trial conducted over a 5-year period in China, we randomly assigned, in a 1:1 ratio, patients with basilar-artery stroke who presented between 6 to 24 hours after symptom onset to receive either medical therapy plus thrombectomy or medical therapy only (control). The original primary outcome, a score of 0 to 4 on the modified Rankin scale (range, 0 to 6, with a score of 0 indicating no disability, 4 moderately severe disability, and 6 death) at 90 days, was changed to a good functional status (a modified Rankin scale score of 0 to 3, with a score of 3 indicating moderate disability). Primary safety outcomes were symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage at 24 hours and 90-day mortality. RESULTS: A total of 217 patients (110 in the thrombectomy group and 107 in the control group) were included in the analysis; randomization occurred at a median of 663 minutes after symptom onset. Enrollment was halted at a prespecified interim analysis because of the superiority of thrombectomy. Thrombolysis was used in 14% of the patients in the thrombectomy group and in 21% of those in the control group. A modified Rankin scale score of 0 to 3 (primary outcome) occurred in 51 patients (46%) in the thrombectomy group and in 26 (24%) in the control group (adjusted rate ratio, 1.81; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.26 to 2.60; P<0.001). The results for the original primary outcome of a modified Rankin scale score of 0 to 4 were 55% and 43%, respectively (adjusted rate ratio, 1.21; 95% CI, 0.95 to 1.54). Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage occurred in 6 of 102 patients (6%) in the thrombectomy group and in 1 of 88 (1%) in the control group (risk ratio, 5.18; 95% CI, 0.64 to 42.18). Mortality at 90 days was 31% in the thrombectomy group and 42% in the control group (adjusted risk ratio, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.54 to 1.04). Procedural complications occurred in 11% of the patients who underwent thrombectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Among patients with stroke due to basilar-artery occlusion who presented 6 to 24 hours after symptom onset, thrombectomy led to a higher percentage with good functional status at 90 days than medical therapy but was associated with procedural complications and more cerebral hemorrhages. (Funded by the Chinese National Ministry of Science and Technology; BAOCHE ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02737189.).

Deep Learning Algorithm Enables Cerebral Venous Thrombosis Detection With Routine Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is a rare cerebrovascular disease. Routine brain magnetic resonance imaging is commonly used to diagnose CVT. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a novel deep learning (DL) algorithm for detecting CVT using routine brain magnetic resonance imaging. METHODS: Routine brain magnetic resonance imaging, including T1-weighted, T2-weighted, and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images of patients suspected of CVT from April 2014 through December 2019 who were enrolled from a CVT registry, were collected. The images were divided into 2 data sets: a development set and a test set. Different DL algorithms were constructed in the development set using 5-fold cross-validation. Four radiologists with various levels of expertise independently read the images and performed diagnosis within the test set. The diagnostic performance on per-patient and per-segment diagnosis levels of the DL algorithms and radiologist's assessment were evaluated and compared. RESULTS: A total of 392 patients, including 294 patients with CVT (37±14 years, 151 women) and 98 patients without CVT (42±15 years, 65 women), were enrolled. Of these, 100 patients (50 CVT and 50 non-CVT) were randomly assigned to the test set, and the other 292 patients comprised the development set. In the test set, the optimal DL algorithm (multisequence multitask deep learning algorithm) achieved an area under the curve of 0.96, with a sensitivity of 96% (48/50) and a specificity of 88% (44/50) on per-patient diagnosis level, as well as a sensitivity of 88% (129/146) and a specificity of 80% (521/654) on per-segment diagnosis level. Compared with 4 radiologists, multisequence multitask deep learning algorithm showed higher sensitivity both on per-patient (all P<0.05) and per-segment diagnosis levels (all P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The CVT-detected DL algorithm herein improved diagnostic performance of routine brain magnetic resonance imaging, with high sensitivity and specificity, which provides a promising approach for detecting CVT.

Cortical vein involvement and its influence in a cohort of adolescents with cerebral venous thrombosis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Cortical vein thrombosis (CVT) is a rare form of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) in adolescent patients that has received little attention. We aimed to analyze the clinical and radiological features of adolescents with CVST and investigate the effects of CVT involvement. METHODS: Patients aged ≥ 10 to ≤ 18 years and diagnosed with CVST were identified at Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University between January 2015 and August 2022 and divided into two groups according to the presence or absence of cortical vein involvement. Additionally, the patients were also categorized based on their sex. Clinical features, radiological characteristics, and 12-month follow-up outcomes were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Fifty-three adolescents, including 21 with CVT, were included (mean age: 15.2 ± 1.8 years; females, 54.7%). The CVT group was more likely to experience seizures (P = 0.028) and deterioration (28.6% vs. 6.2%, P = 0.047) during hospitalization than the non-CVT group. Poor short-term outcomes, based on the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at discharge, were more common in adolescents with CVT (P = 0.007). The proportions of patients showing edema (42.9% vs. 6.2%, P = 0.004) and mass effect (P = 0.015) were significantly higher in the CVT group. Recanalization was observed in 61.9% and 82.1% of the patients in the CVT and non-CVT groups, respectively, during the first imaging review (median, 22 days). After a 12-month follow-up, female adolescents had more frequent resident secondary headaches than male adolescents (52.9% vs. 12.5%; P = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS: Cortical vein involvement in adolescents with CVST was associated with a higher risk of epilepsy at presentation, deterioration during hospitalization, edema, and mass effect on acute imaging. Moreover, cortical vein involvement may lead to worse short-term outcomes. Sex differences require consideration in etiological analyses and prolonged follow-ups.

Outcomes of Cerebral Venous Thrombosis due to Vaccine-Induced Immune Thrombotic Thrombocytopenia After the Acute Phase.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) due to vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT) is a severe condition, with high in-hospital mortality rates. Here, we report clinical outcomes of patients with CVT-VITT after SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) vaccination who survived initial hospitalization. METHODS: We used data from an international registry of patients who developed CVT within 28 days of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, collected until February 10, 2022. VITT diagnosis was classified based on the Pavord criteria. Outcomes were mortality, functional independence (modified Rankin Scale score 0-2), VITT relapse, new thrombosis, and bleeding events (all after discharge from initial hospitalization). RESULTS: Of 107 CVT-VITT cases, 43 (40%) died during initial hospitalization. Of the remaining 64 patients, follow-up data were available for 60 (94%) patients (37 definite VITT, 9 probable VITT, and 14 possible VITT). Median age was 40 years and 45/60 (75%) patients were women. Median follow-up time was 150 days (interquartile range, 94-194). Two patients died during follow-up (3% [95% CI, 1%-11%). Functional independence was achieved by 53/60 (88% [95% CI, 78%-94%]) patients. No new venous or arterial thrombotic events were reported. One patient developed a major bleeding during follow-up (fatal intracerebral bleed). CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to the high mortality of CVT-VITT in the acute phase, mortality among patients who survived the initial hospitalization was low, new thrombotic events did not occur, and bleeding events were rare. Approximately 9 out of 10 CVT-VITT patients who survived the acute phase were functionally independent at follow-up.

Diagnostic performance of MR black-blood thrombus imaging for cerebral venous thrombosis in real-world clinical practice.

OBJECTIVES: MR black-blood thrombus imaging (BTI) has been developed for the detection of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT). Yet, there is a lack of real-world data to verifying its clinical performance. This study aims to evaluate the performance of BTI in diagnosing and staging CVT in a 5-year period. METHODS: Patients suspected of CVT were enrolled between 2014 and 2019. Patients with or without BTI scans were classified into group A and group B, respectively. The prevalence of correct diagnosis of CVT and patients with evaluable clot age were compared. The diagnostic performance of BTI including sensitivity, specificity, and specific staging information was further analyzed. RESULTS: Two hundred and twenty-one of the 308 patients suspected of CVT were eligible in the current study (114 in group A and 97 in group B), with 125 diagnosed by multidisciplinary teams to have CVTs (56 in group A, 69 in group B). The rate of correct diagnosis of CVT was higher in group A than that in group B (94.7% vs 60.8%, p < 0.001, x2 = 36.517) after adding BTI images. The percent of patients with evaluable staged segments between the two groups were 96.4% and 33.9%, respectively (x2 = 48.191, p < 0.001). BTI showed a sensitivity of 96.4% and 87.9% in the detection of CVT on per-patient and per-segment level, respectively. Up to 98.1% of all thrombosed segments could be staged by BTI and 59.6% of them were matched with clinical staging. CONCLUSIONS: In the actual clinical practice, BTI improves diagnostic confidence and has an excellent performance in confirming and staging CVT. KEY POINTS: • Black-blood thrombus imaging has good diagnostic performance in detecting cerebral venous thrombosis compared to traditional imaging methods with strong evidence in the actual clinical setting. • BTI helps clinicians to diagnose CVT with more accuracy and confidence, which can be served as a promising imaging examination. • BTI can also provide additional information of different thrombus ages objectively, the valuable reference for clinical strategy.

Risk Factors for Severe Residual Headache in Cerebral Venous Thrombosis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Which factors will influence the presence of severe residual headache after cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is unclear. The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors for severe residual headache in a large single-center cohort of patients with CVT. METHODS: We consecutively included eligible patients with CVT from a prospective stroke registry. Severe residual headache was defined as a residual headache attack requiring bed rest or hospital admission within 1 month before the last follow-up visit. We identified the risk factors of severe residual headache in all survivors and in those with favorable functional outcome (a modified Rankin Scale score, 0-2). RESULTS: A total of 325 patients' data were analyzed. At the last follow-up (median 13 months), 43 patients (13.2%) reported severe headache. In the multivariable analysis, isolated intracranial hypertension (odds ratio [OR], 3.309 [95% CI, 1.434-7.634]; P=0.005), CVT recurrence (OR, 4.722 [95% CI, 1.639-13.602]; P=0.004), and no recanalization (OR, 10.158 [95% CI, 4.194-24.600]; P<0.001) were independently associated with severe headache. Severe headache was more frequent in patients with unfavorable outcome (11/25 [44.0%] versus 32/300 [10.7%]; P<0.001). In patients with favorable outcome, the risk factors for severe headache were isolated intracranial hypertension (OR, 3.236 [95% CI, 1.268-8.256]; P=0.014) and no recanalization (OR, 7.863 [95% CI, 3.120-19.812]; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Isolated intracranial hypertension, CVT recurrence, and no recanalization increased the risk for severe residual headache after CVT.

Asymptomatic Intracerebral Hemorrhage May Worsen Clinical Outcomes in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients Undergoing Thrombectomy.

BACKGROUND: Asymptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (AICH) is a common phenomenon in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) who were treated with endovascular thrombectomy (ET). This study aimed to evaluate the clinical effects of AICH and its risk factors in this patient population. METHODS: This observational study was based on a prospective registry study. AIS patients with large-vessel occlusion in the anterior circulation and treated with ET were recruited. During thrombectomy procedures, intra-arterial infusion of thrombolytics or antiplatelet and permanent stenting were used as remedial therapies. The primary outcome was the overall distribution of modified Rankin scale (mRS) 90 days after ET. RESULTS: This study included 102 patients (61.1 ± 12.7 years old), in whom 39 patients (38.2%) experienced AICH. At 90-day follow-up, the median mRS was 2 (interquartile range [IQR] 0-3) for patients without AICH and 4 (IQR 2-6) for those with AICH (adjusted P = .005). Fourteen patients with AICH and 7 patients without AICH died, which was significantly different (35.9% versus 11.1%, adjusted P = .015). Thirty-nine patients (61.9%) without AICH and 14 patients (35.9%) with AICH achieved functional independence at 3-month follow-up (adjusted P = .117). The length of intensive care unit staying was 5 days (IQR 2-10) in patients without AICH and 8 days (IQR 3-19) in those with AICH (adjusted P = .840). In multivariate analysis, lower Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) (adjusted P = .003) and adjunctively intra-arterial thrombolysis (adjusted P = .016) were independently associated with AICH. CONCLUSIONS: In AIS patients treated with ET AICH appears to be associated with worse functional outcomes and high mortality. Lower ASPECTS and adjectively intra-arterial thrombolysis were independent risk factors of AICH.

Inflammation is correlated with severity and outcome of cerebral venous thrombosis.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have suggested a relationship between inflammation and cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT). This retrospective study aimed to explore the changes in inflammation in different CVT stages and the correlation between inflammation and severity and outcome of CVT. METHODS: In total, 95 suitable patients with CVT and 41 controls were compared. Patients with CVT were divided into three groups. The inflammatory factors studied included hypersensitive C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) in the peripheral blood and immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulin M (IgM), and immunoglobulin G (IgG) in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The severity of CVT was evaluated with the modified Rankin Scale (mRS), the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), fundus condition, intracranial pressure (ICP), and complications on admission. The short-term outcome was evaluated with the mRS at discharge. RESULTS: The following results were obtained: (1) Inflammatory factor levels in patients with CVT were higher than those in the controls. (2) Inflammatory factor levels in the acute and subacute stages were significantly higher than those in the chronic stage (all P < 0.05). (3) Serum NLR and CSF IgM levels were positively related to baseline degree of disability (odds ratio [OR], 1.279, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.009-1.621, P = 0.042; OR 1.402, 95% CI 1.036-1.896, P = 0.028). The Hs-CRP level was positively correlated with the baseline occurrence of seizure (OR 1.040, 95% CI 1.001-1.080, P = 0.043). The baseline serum NLR (r = 0.244, P = 0.017), CSF IgA (r = 0.615, P < 0.001), CSF IgM (r = 0.752, P < 0.001), and CSF IgG (r = 0.248, P = 0.015) levels were positively associated with NIHSS. (4) The baseline NLR was significantly associated with high risk of poor outcome at discharge (OR 1.339, 95% CI 1.097-1.784, P = 0.007). Moreover, the ROC showed that NLR ≥ 4.205 could better predict the poor outcome at discharge. The data were analyzed using SPSS. CONCLUSIONS: Inflammation may develop after CVT and gradually decrease during the course. Inflammation was significantly correlated with severity on admission and short-term poor outcome at discharge in CVT.

Outcome of endovascular treatment for acute basilar artery occlusion in the modern era: a single institution experience.

PURPOSE: The beneficial effect of endovascular treatment (EVT) for patients with acute basilar artery occlusion (ABAO) remains uncertain. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate clinical outcome of EVT for patients with ABAO and analyze prognostic factors of good outcome. METHODS: From our prospectively established database, we reviewed all patients with ABAO receiving EVT during January 2014 to December 2016. Baseline characteristics and outcomes were evaluated. Favorable functional outcome was defined as modified Rankin Scale score of 0 to 3 assessed at 3-month follow-up. The association between clinical and procedural characteristics and functional outcome was assessed. RESULTS: Of the 68 patients included, 50 patients (73.5%) received mechanical thrombectomy with stent retriever device. Successful reperfusion (thrombolysis in cerebral infarction grades 2b-3) was achieved in 61 patients (89.7%). Overall favorable functional outcome was reached by 31 patients (45.6%). In univariate analysis, Glasgow Coma Scale sum score, baseline National Institutes of Health stroke scale score (NIHSS), and baseline glycemia level were identified predicting good clinical outcome. Multivariate analysis showed that lower NIHSS was the only independent risk factor of favorable functional outcome (OR 0.832; 95% CI, 0.715-0.968; p = 0.018). No difference of favorable outcomes was observed between the subgroups of time to EVT < 6 h and ≽ 6 h. CONCLUSIONS: Data in the present study suggests that EVT for ABAO patients should be reasonable within 24 h of symptom onset. The most important factor determining clinical outcome is initial stroke severity.

Intra-Arterial Thrombolysis Improves the Prognosis of Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients without Large Vessel Occlusion.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Intravenous thrombolysis is known as the only effective reperfusion therapy for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) caused by small branches occlusion. However, it is still unclear whether intra-arterial thrombolysis (IAT) is safe and effective for patients without detectable arterial occlusion. This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of IAT in these patients. METHODS: Data were collected on consecutive patients from December 2012 to February 2017 at the Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University. AIS patients without large artery occlusion during digital subtraction angiography (DSA) were divided into 2 groups: (1) Intra-arterial urokinase thrombolysis group (UK group): received intra-arterial urokinase thrombolysis treatment; (2) Control group: cerebral angiography examination only. The primary outcome was 3-month favorable functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale 0-2). RESULTS: A total of 48 patients received urokinase thrombolysis, and 34 patients underwent DSA examination only. The UK group had more frequent favorable functional outcomes (70.8 vs. 50%, p = 0.032) at 3-month follow-up and higher score of National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale improvement on the second day (p = 0.007). One patient (2%) had symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage and 3 patients (6.3%) had asymptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (asICH) in the UK group. One patient (3.3%) had asICH in the control group. There were no significant differences about ICH. CONCLUSIONS: AIS caused by small branches occlusion could benefit from intra-arterial urokinase thrombolysis, and the risk of intracerebral hemorrhage was not significantly higher.

Low-Dose Tirofiban Improves Functional Outcome in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients Treated With Endovascular Thrombectomy.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Chinese patients largely experience acute ischemic stroke (AIS) because of large artery atherosclerosis rather than cardioembolism, and whether tirofiban is safe and effective in these patients treated with endovascular thrombectomy (ET) is unknown. This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of tirofiban in Chinese patients with AIS treated with ET. METHODS: This observational study is based on a single-center prospective registry study. Patients with AIS undergoing ET with second-generation stent retrievers from January 2013 to February 2017 were treated with ET alone or ET plus low dose of tirofiban. The primary outcome was symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH). The secondary outcomes included rate of early reocclusion, any ICH, fatal ICH, and 3-month and long-term functional outcomes. RESULTS: One hundred eighty AIS subjects were included in the analysis, including 90 subjects treated with tirofiban and 90 subjects without tirofiban. Sixty-three subjects (35%) had any ICH, 19 of them (11%) were sICH, and 9 of them (5%) were fatal ICH. Ten subjects (11%) treated with tirofiban experienced sICH and 9 subjects (10%) not given tirofiban experienced sICH, not a significant difference (P=0.808). Early reocclusion happened in 4 of 90 subjects (4.4%) treated with tirofiban and 8 of 90 subjects (8.9%) not treated with tirofiban (P=0.370). One hundred sixty-one subjects (89%) completed long-term follow-up, subjects treated tirofiban were associated with lower odds of death (23% versus 44%, P=0.005) when compared with those who were not treated. Additionally, tirofiban was associated with better odds of long-term functional independence (adjusted odds ratio, 4.37; 95% confidence interval, 1.13-16.97; P=0.033). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with AIS undergoing ET, tirofiban is not associated with higher sICH, it seems to lead to lower odds of deaths and better odds of long-term functional independence. Further investigations are needed to determine the efficacy of tirofiban in preventing early reocclusion, the underlying mechanisms, and its optimal treatment protocol.

Early Detection and Quantification of Cerebral Venous Thrombosis by Magnetic Resonance Black-Blood Thrombus Imaging.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Early diagnosis of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is currently a major clinical challenge. We proposed a novel magnetic resonance black-blood thrombus imaging technique (MRBTI) for detection and quantification of CVT. METHODS: MRBTI was performed on 23 patients with proven CVT and 24 patients with negative CVT confirmed by conventional imaging techniques. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on the duration of clinical onset: ≤7 days (group 1) and between 7 and 30 days (group 2). Signal/noise ratio was calculated for the detected thrombus, and contrast/noise ratio was measured between thrombus and lumen and also between thrombus and brain tissue. The feasibility of using MRBTI for thrombus volume measurement was explored, and total thrombus volume was calculated for each patient. RESULTS: In 23 patients with proven CVT, MRBTI correctly identified 113 of 116 segments with a sensitivity of 97.4%. Thrombus signal/noise ratio was 153±57 and 261±95 for group 1 (n=10) and group 2 (n=13), respectively (P<0.01). Thrombus to lumen contrast/noise ratio was 149±57 and 256±94 for group 1 and group 2, respectively. Thrombus to brain tissue contrast/noise ratio was 41±36 and 120±63 (P<0.01), respectively. Quantification of thrombus volume was successfully conducted in all patients with CVT, and mean volume of thrombus was 10.5±6.9 mL. CONCLUSIONS: The current findings support that with effectively suppressed blood signal, MRBTI allows selective visualization of thrombus as opposed to indirect detection of venous flow perturbation and can be used as a promising first-line diagnostic imaging tool.

Nephrotic Syndrome May Be One of the Important Etiologies of Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis.

OBJECTIVE: Thrombosis is a common complication of nephrotic syndrome (NS). However, cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) secondary to NS is rarely reported. Here we report a case series study of 5 cases of CVST with NS, so as to make a better understanding and management of this disorder. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed in 5 consecutive patients with CVST in combination with NS between 2009 and 2015. The clinical manifestations, laboratory and radiological findings, treatment, and clinical outcomes were analyzed. RESULTS: This cohort of case series consists of 1 woman and 4 men, aged 16-49 years. All patients complained initially of an acute or subacute headache. CVST attacked during NS occurrence in 3 patients, and during NS recurrence in 2 patients. The median duration of signs and symptoms prior to clinical diagnosis and treatment was 12.80 ± 7.53 days. In all patients, it was magnetic resonance venography that detected the thrombosis in the cerebral venous sinus, with the most common site of CVST to be the superior sagittal sinus (5 of 5 patients). Two or more segments of sinus were involved simultaneously in 4 patients. The treatment of CVST in NS involved therapy of CVST in the general population. All the 5 patients had full recovery, and no one relapsed with a follow-up of 26.60 ± 29.75 months. CONCLUSIONS: NS may be one of the important etiologies of CVST. When patients with NS had progressing headache, seizure, or other unexplained neurological symptoms, CVST should be considered.

Dabigatran etexilate versus warfarin in cerebral venous thrombosis in Chinese patients (CHOICE-CVT): An open-label, randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy and safety of dabigatran etexilate for Chinese patients with cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) has not been well established. METHODS: CHOICE-CVT was an exploratory, single-center, randomized, open-label study in the National Center for Neurological Disorders involving Chinese patients with CVT aged 18 to 80 years who were randomly assigned (1:1) to either dabigatran etexilate or warfarin. Oral anticoagulants were initiated after 10-15 days of LMWH. The primary efficacy and safety endpoints included the number of patients with recurrent CVT and/or deep venous thrombosis (DVT) and major clinical bleeding within 180 days. Secondary efficacy endpoints included venous recanalization and change in papilledema at day 180. Secondary safety outcomes comprised death, clinical nonmajor bleeding, and any bleeding. The study was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov under NCT03930940. RESULTS: Between October 2017 and February 2023, a total of 89 patients were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive either dabigatran etexilate (n = 44) or warfarin (n = 45). At day 180, the dabigatran etexilate group showed a statistically nonsignificant but likely clinically significant number of patients with recurrent CVT and/or DVT (8 (18.2%; 95% CI, 6.3-30.0) vs 3 (6.7%; 95% CI, 0.0-14.2), p = 0.099, with a power (1-ß) of 38.401%) compared with the warfarin group. The dabigatran etexilate group showed a comparable number of patients with clinical major bleeding (0 (0) vs 0 (0) p = 1.000), and clinical nonmajor bleeding (1 (2.3%; 95% CI, 0.0-6.9) vs 1 (2.2%; 95% CI, 0.0-6.7)) but demonstrated a lower risk of any bleeding (1 (2.3%; 95% CI, 0.0-6.9) vs 9 (20.0%; 95% CI, 7.8-32.2)) compared with the warfarin group. Most patients in both groups achieved venous recanalization according to the Modified Qureshi scale (27 (75%; 95% CI, 60.1-89.9) in the dabigatran etexilate group vs 34 (82.9%; 95% CI, 70.9-95.0) in the warfarin group) and exhibited improvement in papilledema as per the Frisén classification (35 (97.2%; 95% CI, 91.6-100.0) in the dabigatran etexilate group vs 37 (88.1%, 95% CI, 77.9-98.3) in the warfarin group). CONCLUSIONS: These findings regarding efficacy and safety support the consideration of dabigatran etexilate therapy as a viable treatment option for Chinese patients with CVT.

Predicting Futile Recanalization in Acute Ischemic Stroke Patients Undergoing Endovascular Thrombectomy: The Role of White Blood Cell Count to Mean Platelet Volume Ratio.

BACKGROUND: Approximately half of AIS patients have an unfavorable outcome even after complete reperfusion. White blood cell (WBC) count to mean platelet volume (MPV) ratio (WMR) may be a promising predictive factor for futile recanalization. This study aimed to determine the predictive value of WMR in identifying individuals at higher risk of futile recanalization. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, 296 patients who achieved complete reperfusion after endovascular treatment (EVT) were included in the analysis. WBC count and MPV were collected at admission. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the independent association of the WMR with functional outcomes at three months. Net reclassification improvement (NRI) and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) analyses were used to compare the accuracy of WMR for predicting futile recanalization. RESULTS: The adjusted odds ratios for the fourth quartile of WMR were 3.142 (95% CI 1.405- 7.027, P = 0.005) for unfavorable outcomes at 3 months in comparison with the first quartile. The inclusion of WMR in the traditional model enabled a more accurate prediction of unfavorable outcomes (NRI 0.250, P = 0.031; IDI 0.022, P = 0.017). CONCLUSION: Elevated WMR at admission was independently associated with futile recanalization among AIS patients who received EVT and might be useful in identifying futile recanalization.

Multicenter registry study of cerebral venous thrombosis in china (RETAIN-CH): Rationale and design.

BACKGROUND AND RATIONALE: Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is a rare cerebrovascular disorder that mainly affects young and middle-aged adults. Epidemiological data on the incidence, risk factors, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of CVT are lacking in China. In addition, there is a lack of evidence from large, multicenter, real-world studies on the efficacy and safety of endovascular. AIM: To understand the incidence, diagnosis and treatment status of CVT in China and to estimate the effectiveness and safety of endovascular treatment in the real-world. METHODS: A multicenter, retrospective observational cohort study will be conducted on CVT patient records from 104 hospitals, between January 1, 2018 and June 30, 2022, identified using a 2-stage cluster sampling design based on per capita gross domestic product. Each enrolled participant is required to complete a further follow-up, which includes the current situation and the assessment at 3 and 12 months after discharge. STUDY OUTCOMES: The outcomes of this study will include the current status of the incidence, pathogenesis, etiology, clinical symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of CVT in China, as well as the effectiveness and safety of endovascular treatment in the real-world. DISCUSSION: Results from this study will provide evidence on the incidence, specific risk factors, symptomatic and imaging features, and clinical outcomes of CVT in China as well as indicate whether endovascular treatment is superior to medical management alone for patients with acute CVT in the real-world. TRIAL REGISTRATION: http://www. CLINICALTRIALS: gov. IDENTIFIER: NCT05448248.

Night shift work was associated with functional outcomes in acute ischemic stroke patients treated with endovascular thrombectomy.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the impact of late night shift work on the functional outcomes of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) treated with endovascular thrombectomy (EVT). Methods: Consecutive AIS patients who underwent EVT between June 2019 and June 2021 were enrolled and divided into non-night shift work and night shift work groups based on their occupational histories. The primary outcome was the modified Rankin Scale score defined 3-month functional outcome. The secondary outcomes were 3-month mortality, symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH), ICH and early recanalization. Results: A total of 285 patients were enrolled, 35 patients (12.3%) were night shift workers, who were younger (P < 0.001) and had a significantly higher prevalence of smoking (P < 0.001), hyperlipidemia (P = 0.002), coronary heart disease (P = 0.031), and atrial fibrillation (P < 0.001). The 3-month favorable outcomes were achieved in 44.8% and 25.7% of patients in the non-night shift work and night shift work groups, respectively (adjusted odds ratio [OR]: 0.24, 95% CI: 0.10-0.57; adjusted P = 0.001). No difference was found in 3-month mortality (adjusted OR: 0.43; 95% CI: 0.14-1.25, adjusted P = 0.121), rates of ICH (adjusted OR: 0.73; 95% CI: 0.33-1.60; adjusted P = 0.430), sICH (adjusted OR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.34-1.67; adjusted P = 0.487), or early successful recanalization (adjusted OR: 0.42; 95% CI: 0.12-1.56; adjusted P = 0.197). These results were consistent after PSM analysis. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that late night shift work is significantly associated with unfavorable outcomes in patients with AIS after EVT.

Endovascular treatment of cerebral sinus thrombosis due to vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia.

INTRODUCTION: There is little data on the role of endovascular treatment (EVT) of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) due to vaccine-induced immune thrombotic thrombocytopenia (VITT). Here, we describe clinical characteristics and outcomes of CVST-VITT patients who were treated with EVT. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We report data from an international registry of patients who developed CVST within 28 days of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, reported between 29 March 2021 and 6 March 2023. VITT was defined according to the Pavord criteria. RESULTS: EVT was performed in 18/136 (13%) patients with CVST-VITT (92% aspiration and/or stent retrieval, 8% local thrombolysis). Most common indications were extensive thrombosis and clinical or radiological deterioration. Compared to non-EVT patients, those receiving EVT had a higher median thrombus load (4.5 vs 3). Following EVT, local blood flow was improved in 83% (10/12, 95% confidence interval [CI] 54-96). One (6%) asymptomatic sinus perforation occurred. Eight (44%) patients treated with EVT also underwent decompressive surgery. Mortality was 50% (9/18, 95% CI 29-71) and 88% (8/9, 95% CI 25-66) of surviving EVT patients achieved functional independence with a modified Rankin Scale score of 0-2 at follow-up. In multivariable analysis, EVT was not associated with increased mortality (adjusted odds ratio, 0.66, 95% CI 0.16-2.58). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: We describe the largest cohort of CVST-VITT patients receiving EVT. Half of the patients receiving EVT died during hospital admission, but most survivors achieved functional independence.

Impaired Dynamic Cerebral Autoregulation in Patients With Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis: Evaluation Using Transcranial Doppler and Silent Reading Stimulation.

OBJECTIVE: Cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) may impair dynamic cerebral autoregulation (dCA) of the middle cerebral artery (MCA). However, most studies have focused on dCA of the MCA; a few studies are based on the posterior cerebral artery (PCA) during silent reading and neurovascular coupling (NVC). This study explored the effects of CVST on dCA of the MCA and PCA during silent reading and NVC. METHODS: From January 2021 to August 2022, 60 CVST patients and 30 controls were enrolled in this study. Non-invasive continuous beat-to-beat blood pressure, cerebral blood flow velocity and other associated information on the MCA and PCA during silent reading were collected using a transcranial Doppler. NVC assessment was performed by opening and closing the eyes periodically based on voice prompts, and eye-opening visual stimulation was achieved by silently reading Chinese tourism materials. Visual stimulation signals can selectively activate Brodmann's areas 17, 18, and 19 of the occipital when reading silently with open eyes, prompting them to release neurotransmitters and dilate PCA. dCA was determined by transfer function analysis. RESULTS: In dCA of the PCA during silent reading, the CVST group's very low frequency phase was lower than that of the control group (p = 0.047). In NVC, the difference in the indexes of the cerebrovascular conductance and visually evoked flow response of the CVST group were lower than those of the control group (p = 0.017 and p = 0.019, respectively). CONCLUSION: Compared with the control group, dCA and NVC of the PCA during silent reading were impaired in CVST patients.

An Exploration of Anti-Inflammatory Therapy in Acute/Subacute Severe Cerebral Venous Thrombosis with Hereditary Protein C/S Deficiency: Case Series.

Background: Inflammation was associated with the severity of severe cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) on admission and poor prognosis at discharge. Hereditary protein C/S deficiency (hereditary PCD/PSD) not only promotes thrombosis but also activates the inflammatory response, further inducing venous thrombosis. However, conventional treatments such as standard anticoagulant/endovascular therapy (EVT) do not seem to improve prognosis. Anti-inflammatory therapy may be a new way to treat the disease. Methods: We enrolled five patients with acute/subacute severe CVT with hereditary PCD/PSD from January 2020 to July 2022. In addition to standard anticoagulant therapy, all of them were given short-term methylprednisolone pulse therapy. Neurological deficit, increased intracranial pressure, venous recanalization, serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) inflammatory markers and adverse events were retrospectively described before and after treatment and at 6 months after discharge. Results: Inflammatory indexes of all patients were significantly elevated on admission. After methylprednisolone pulse therapy, serum inflammatory indexes including neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (P=0.043); platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (P=0.043); systemic immune inflammatory index (P=0.043); interleukin-6 (P=0.043) and hypersensitive C-reactive protein (P=0.022) reduced dramatically compared with baseline. CSF inflammatory indexes had a decreasing trend compared with baseline (P>0.05). In terms of venous recanalization, one patient achieved complete recanalization, four patients obtained partial recanalization. Compared with baseline on admission, the NIH Stroke Scale (NIHSS), modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and intracranial pressure were all considerably lower at discharge (P=0.029, P=0.041 and P=0.017). At 6-month follow-up, NIHSS and mRS further declined. During hospitalization and 6-month follow-up, none of the five patients experienced severe steroid-related adverse effects such as recurrence of venous thrombosis, spontaneous fracture or osteonecrosis, and gastroduodenal ulcer. Conclusion: Acute/subacute severe CVT with hereditary PCD/PSD has high levels of inflammation. In addition to conventional anticoagulant therapy, early anti-inflammatory therapy using steroids may be necessary. Nevertheless, substantial randomized controlled trials with larger sample sizes are required for further investigation.