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BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Post-stroke aphasia is associated with a reduced quality of life (QoL) and higher risk of depression. Few studies have addressed the effect of coping with aphasia. Our aim is to evaluate the impact of post-stroke aphasia on self-reported QoL and symptoms of depression. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional prospective case-control study. Cases involved patients with post-stroke aphasia included in the DULCINEA trial (NCT04289493). Healthy controls were recruited using snowball sampling. All subjects completed the following questionnaires: General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), Stroke Aphasia Quality of Life Scale (SAQOL-39), Communicative Activity Log (CAL) and Stroke Aphasic Depression Questionnaire (SADQ-10). RESULTS: Twenty-three patients (eight women; mean age 62.9 years) and 73 controls (42 women; mean age 53.7 years) were included. Cases scored lower than controls in perception of health (GHQ-12: median 3 [IQR 1; 6] vs. 0 [IQR 0; 2]) and perception of QoL (SAQOL-39: median 3.6 [IQR 3.3; 40] vs. 4.6 [IQR 4.2; 4.8]). Functional communication (CAL: median 135 [IQR 122; 148] vs. 94 [IQR 74; 103]) and SAQOL-39 communication subscale (median 2.7 [IQR 2.1; 3.2] vs. 4.8 [IQR 4.6; 5.0]) were also significantly lower in the case group. Notably, cases reported fewer depressive symptoms than controls (SADQ-10: median 11 [IQR 9; 15] vs. 13 [IQR 11; 16]; p = 0.016). A mediational analysis revealed that the relationship between post-stroke aphasia and depression was not mediated by functional communication. CONCLUSIONS: Although communication difficulties impact the QoL of patients with post-stroke aphasia, such patients report fewer depressive symptoms on the SADQ-10 scale than healthy people, with no differences in scores related to social participation.
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Afasia , Calidad de Vida , Humanos , Femenino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Estudios de Casos y Controles , Depresión , Estudios Transversales , Encuestas y Cuestionarios , Comunicación , PercepciónRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated central nervous system disease whose course is unpredictable. Finding biomarkers that help to better comprehend the disease's pathogenesis is crucial for supporting clinical decision-making. Blood extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-bound particles secreted by all cell types that contain information on the disease's pathological processes. PURPOSE: To identify the immune and nervous system-derived EV profile from blood that could have a specific role as biomarker in MS and assess its possible correlation with disease state. RESULTS: Higher levels of T cell-derived EVs and smaller size of neuron-derived EVs were associated with clinical relapse. The smaller size of the oligodendrocyte-derived EVs was related with motor and cognitive impairment. The proteomic analysis identified mannose-binding lectin serine protease 1 and complement factor H from immune system cell-derived EVs as autoimmune disease-associated proteins. We observed hepatocyte growth factor-like protein in EVs from T cells and inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain 2 from neurons as white matter injury-related proteins. In patients with MS, a specific protein profile was found in the EVs, higher levels of alpha-1-microglobulin and fibrinogen ß chain, lower levels of C1S and gelsolin in the immune system-released vesicles, and Talin-1 overexpression in oligodendrocyte EVs. These specific MS-associated proteins, as well as myelin basic protein in oligodendrocyte EVs, correlated with disease activity in the patients with MS. CONCLUSION: Neural-derived and immune-derived EVs found in blood appear to be good specific biomarkers in MS for reflecting the disease state.
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Vesículas Extracelulares , Esclerosis Múltiple , Humanos , Esclerosis Múltiple/metabolismo , Proteómica , Encéfalo/patología , Vesículas Extracelulares/metabolismo , Sistema Inmunológico , Matriz Extracelular , BiomarcadoresRESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak has added challenges to providing quality acute stroke care due to the reallocation of stroke resources to COVID-19. Case series suggest that patients with COVID-19 have more severe strokes; however, no large series have compared stroke outcomes with contemporary non-COVID-19 patients. Purpose was to analyze the impact of COVID-19 pandemic in stroke care and to evaluate stroke outcomes according to the diagnosis of COVID-19. METHODS: Retrospective multicenter cohort study including consecutive acute stroke patients admitted to 7 stroke centers from February 25 to April 25, 2020 (first 2 months of the COVID-19 outbreak in Madrid). The quality of stroke care was measured by the number of admissions, recanalization treatments, and time metrics. The primary outcome was death or dependence at discharge. RESULTS: A total of 550 acute stroke patients were admitted. A significant reduction in the number of admissions and secondary interhospital transfers was found. COVID-19 was confirmed in 105 (19.1%) patients, and a further 19 patients were managed as suspected COVID-19 (3.5%). No differences were found in the rates of reperfusion therapies in ischemic strokes (45.5% non-COVID-19, 35.7% confirmed COVID-19, and 40% suspected COVID-19; P=0.265). However, the COVID-19 group had longer median door-to-puncture time (110 versus 80 minutes), which was associated with the performance of chest computed tomography. Multivariate analysis confirmed poorer outcomes for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 (adjusted odds ratios, 2.05 [95% CI, 1.12-3.76] and 3.56 [95% CI, 1.15-11.05], respectively). CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that patients with COVID-19 have more severe strokes and poorer outcomes despite similar acute management. A well-established stroke care network helps to diminish the impact of such an outbreak in stroke care, reducing secondary transfers and allowing maintenance of reperfusion therapies, with a minor impact on door-to-puncture times, which were longer in patients who underwent chest computed tomography.
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COVID-19/epidemiología , Brotes de Enfermedades/prevención & control , SARS-CoV-2/patogenicidad , Accidente Cerebrovascular/epidemiología , Accidente Cerebrovascular/virología , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , COVID-19/complicaciones , Femenino , Hospitalización/estadística & datos numéricos , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Estudios RetrospectivosRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Stroke is a serious health problem, given it is the second leading cause of death and a major cause of disability in the European Union. Our study aimed to assess the impact of stroke care organization measures (such as the development of stroke units, implementation of a regional stroke code, and treatment with intravenous thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy) implemented from 1997 to 2017 on hospital admissions due to stroke and mortality attributed to stroke in the Madrid health region. METHODS: Epidemiological data were obtained from the National Statistics Institute public website. We collected data on the number of patients discharged with a diagnosis of stroke, in-hospital mortality due to stroke and the number of inhabitants in the Madrid health region each year. We calculated rates of discharges and mortality due to stroke and the number of inhabitants per SU bed, and we analysed temporal trends in in-hospital mortality due to stroke using the Daniels test in 2 separate time periods (before and after 2011). Figures representing annual changes in these data from 1997 to 2017 were elaborated, marking stroke care organizational measures in the year they were implemented to visualize their temporal relation with changes in stroke statistics. RESULTS: Hospital discharges with a diagnosis of stroke have increased from 170.3/100,000 inhabitants in 1997 to 230.23/100,000 inhabitants in 2017. However, the in-hospital mortality rate due to stroke has decreased (from 33.3 to 15.2%). A statistically significant temporal trend towards a decrease in the mortality percentage and rate was found from 1997 to 2011. CONCLUSIONS: Our study illustrates how measures such as the development of stroke units, implementation of a regional stroke code and treatment with intravenous thrombolysis coincide in time with a reduction in in-hospital mortality due to stroke.
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Accidente Cerebrovascular , Hospitalización , Humanos , Accidente Cerebrovascular/epidemiología , Accidente Cerebrovascular/terapiaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The experience gained during the first COVID-19 wave could have mitigated the negative impact on stroke care in the following waves. Our aims were to analyze the characteristics and outcomes of patients with stroke admitted during the second COVID-19 wave and to evaluate the differences in the stroke care provision compared with the first wave. METHODS: This retrospective multicenter cohort study included consecutive stroke patients admitted to any of the seven hospitals with stroke units (SUs) and endovascular treatment facilities in the Madrid Health Region. The characteristics of the stroke patients with or without a COVID-19 diagnosis were compared and the organizational changes in stroke care between the first wave (25 February to 25 April 2020) and second wave (21 July to 21 November 2020) were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 550 and 1191 stroke patients were admitted during the first and second COVID-19 waves, respectively, with an average daily admission rate of nine patients in both waves. During the second wave, there was a decrease in stroke severity (median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale 5 vs. 6; p = 0.000), in-hospital strokes (3% vs. 8.1%) and in-hospital mortality (9.9% vs. 15.9%). Furthermore, fewer patients experienced concurrent COVID-19 (6.8% vs. 19.1%), and they presented milder COVID-19 and less severe strokes. Fewer hospitals reported a reduction in the number of SU beds or deployment of SU personnel to COVID-19 dedicated wards during the second wave. CONCLUSIONS: During the second COVID-19 wave, fewer stroke patients were diagnosed with COVID-19, and they had less stroke severity and milder COVID-19.
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COVID-19 , Accidente Cerebrovascular , Prueba de COVID-19 , Estudios de Cohortes , Humanos , Estudios Retrospectivos , SARS-CoV-2 , Accidente Cerebrovascular/epidemiologíaRESUMEN
Acute, painless, monocular vision loss (APMVL) usually has a vascular aetiology. We conducted a prospective observational study from 2011 to 2018 to analyse the added value of colour Doppler imaging to assess orbital vessel blood flow in the diagnosis of APMVL. The study included 67 patients (39 [58.2%] men; mean age, 65.9 years [SD 13.7]) with APMVL evaluated at the Neurosonology Laboratory within the first 5 days of symptom onset, who were classified as having either transient or persistent monocular blindness. The blood flow in the ophthalmic and central retinal arteries was assessed using colour Doppler ultrasound with a linear 7.5-MHz transducer. Thirty-three (49.3%) patients presented transient monocular blindness, with reduced blood flow in either the ophthalmic or central retinal artery. The group with persistent vision loss included 24 cases of central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) and 10 cases of ischaemic optic neuropathy (35.8% and 14.9%, respectively, of the total sample). These patients were older and had a higher prevalence of hypertension and mild carotid atherosclerosis. Orbital colour Doppler ultrasound (OCDUS) clarified the mechanism/cause of the ischaemia in 11 (16.4%) patients and showed abnormal flow in 46 (68.7%) patients, confirming the vascular origin in 19 (57.6%) of the transient monocular blindness cases. Lower peak systolic velocity was observed in patients with CRAO (p < 0.001), and a velocity < 10 cm/s in the central retinal artery was independently associated with the diagnosis of CRAO. OCDUS can be helpful in confirming the vascular cause and identifying the aetiology of APMVL.
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Ceguera , Arteria Retiniana , Ultrasonografía Doppler en Color , Visión Monocular , Anciano , Ceguera/diagnóstico por imagen , Ceguera/etiología , Velocidad del Flujo Sanguíneo , Femenino , Humanos , Isquemia/diagnóstico por imagen , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Arteria Oftálmica/diagnóstico por imagen , Arteria Retiniana/diagnóstico por imagen , Arteria Retiniana/fisiologíaRESUMEN
Recent case-series of small size implied a pathophysiological association between coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and severe large-vessel acute ischemic stroke. Given that severe strokes are typically associated with poor prognosis and can be very efficiently treated with recanalization techniques, confirmation of this putative association is urgently warranted in a large representative patient cohort to alert stroke clinicians, and inform pre- and in-hospital acute stroke patient pathways. We pooled all consecutive patients hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 and acute ischemic stroke in 28 sites from 16 countries. To assess whether stroke severity and outcomes (assessed at discharge or at the latest assessment for those patients still hospitalized) in patients with acute ischemic stroke are different between patients with COVID-19 and non-COVID-19, we performed 1:1 propensity score matching analyses of our COVID-19 patients with non-COVID-19 patients registered in the Acute Stroke Registry and Analysis of Lausanne Registry between 2003 and 2019. Between January 27, 2020, and May 19, 2020, 174 patients (median age 71.2 years; 37.9% females) with COVID-19 and acute ischemic stroke were hospitalized (median of 12 patients per site). The median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale was 10 (interquartile range [IQR], 4-18). In the 1:1 matched sample of 336 patients with COVID-19 and non-COVID-19, the median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale was higher in patients with COVID-19 (10 [IQR, 4-18] versus 6 [IQR, 3-14]), P=0.03; (odds ratio, 1.69 [95% CI, 1.08-2.65] for higher National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score). There were 48 (27.6%) deaths, of which 22 were attributed to COVID-19 and 26 to stroke. Among 96 survivors with available information about disability status, 49 (51%) had severe disability at discharge. In the propensity score-matched population (n=330), patients with COVID-19 had higher risk for severe disability (median mRS 4 [IQR, 2-6] versus 2 [IQR, 1-4], P<0.001) and death (odds ratio, 4.3 [95% CI, 2.22-8.30]) compared with patients without COVID-19. Our findings suggest that COVID-19 associated ischemic strokes are more severe with worse functional outcome and higher mortality than non-COVID-19 ischemic strokes.
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Isquemia Encefálica/complicaciones , Infecciones por Coronavirus/complicaciones , Neumonía Viral/complicaciones , Accidente Cerebrovascular/complicaciones , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Isquemia Encefálica/diagnóstico por imagen , Isquemia Encefálica/terapia , COVID-19 , Estudios de Cohortes , Infecciones por Coronavirus/diagnóstico por imagen , Infecciones por Coronavirus/terapia , Evaluación de la Discapacidad , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Pandemias , Neumonía Viral/diagnóstico por imagen , Neumonía Viral/terapia , Puntaje de Propensión , Recuperación de la Función , Sistema de Registros , Accidente Cerebrovascular/diagnóstico por imagen , Accidente Cerebrovascular/terapia , Análisis de Supervivencia , Tiempo de Tratamiento , Tomografía Computarizada por Rayos X , Resultado del TratamientoRESUMEN
Background and Purpose: Standardized registries may provide valuable data to further improve stroke care. Our aim was to obtain updated information about characteristics of stroke patients and management of stroke across the Ibero-American countries, using a common in-hospital registry (Safe Implementation of Treatments in StrokeSociedad Iberoamericana de Enfermedades Cerebrovasculares) as a basis for further quality improvement. Methods: Data for this study were entered into the Safe Implementation of Treatments in Stroke registry from September 2009 to December 2013 by 58 centers in 14 countries. Data included demographics, risk factors, onset-to-door time, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, stroke subtype, ischemic stroke etiology, treatments, 3-month mortality, and modified Rankin Scale score. Time to treatment was also recorded for patients treated with thrombolysis. Results: Five thousand four hundred one patients were registered; median age, 65 years; 46% women; 3915 (72.5%) ischemic strokes; 686 (13.7%) hemorrhagic strokes; 213 (4.3%) subarachnoid hemorrhages; 414 (8.3%) transient ischemic attacks; and 31 (0.6%) cerebral vein thrombosis. The most prevalent risk factors were hypertension (71.3%), dyslipidemia (35.2%), and diabetes mellitus (23.6%). Atrial fibrillation was present in 15.1%. Three hundred one ischemic strokes were treated with intravenous thrombolysis (IVT; 7.7%). Patients undergoing IVT were more severely affected (median baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, 11 versus 6). The rate of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhages after IVT was 5.7%. At 3 months, 60.3% of IVT-treated patients and 59.1% of untreated patients were independent (modified Rankin Scale score, 02). Mortality was 11.4% in treated and 12.8% in untreated patients. Conclusions: Safe Implementation of Treatments in StrokeSociedad Iberoamericana de Enfermedades Cerebrovasculares is the largest registry of a general stroke population and the first study to evaluate the level of IVT use in Ibero-America. It provides valuable information that may help to improve the quality of stroke care in the Ibero-American region.
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Isquemia Encefálica/tratamiento farmacológico , Accidente Cerebrovascular/tratamiento farmacológico , Terapia Trombolítica , Activador de Tejido Plasminógeno/uso terapéutico , Anciano , Hemorragia Cerebral/tratamiento farmacológico , Hemorragia Cerebral/epidemiología , Femenino , Fibrinolíticos/uso terapéutico , Humanos , Hemorragias Intracraneales/inducido químicamente , Hemorragias Intracraneales/tratamiento farmacológico , Ataque Isquémico Transitorio/tratamiento farmacológico , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Sistema de Registros , Factores de Riesgo , Terapia Trombolítica/efectos adversos , Resultado del TratamientoRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Reliable predictors of poor clinical outcome despite successful revascularization might help select patients with acute ischemic stroke for thrombectomy. We sought to determine whether baseline Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) applied to CT angiography source images (CTA-SI) is useful in predicting futile recanalization. METHODS: Data are from the FUN-TPA study registry (ClinicalTrials.gov; NCT02164357) including patients with acute ischemic stroke due to proximal arterial occlusion in anterior circulation, undergoing reperfusion therapies. Baseline non-contrast CT and CTA-SI-ASPECTS, time-lapse to image acquisition, occurrence, and timing of recanalization were recorded. Outcome measures were NIHSS at 24 h, symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage, modified Rankin scale score, and mortality at 90 days. Futile recanalization was defined when successful recanalization was associated with poor functional outcome (death or disability). RESULTS: Included were 110 patients, baseline NIHSS 17 (IQR 12; 20), treated with intravenous thrombolysis (IVT; 45 %), primary mechanical thrombectomy (MT; 16 %), or combined IVT + MT (39 %). Recanalization rate was 71 %, median delay of 287 min (225; 357). Recanalization was futile in 28 % of cases. In an adjusted model, baseline CTA-SI-ASPECTS was inversely related to the odds of futile recanalization (OR 0.5; 95 % CI 0.3-0.7), whereas NCCT-ASPECTS was not (OR 0.8; 95 % CI 0.5-1.2). A score ≤5 in CTA-SI-ASPECTS was the best cut-off to predict futile recanalization (sensitivity 35 %; specificity 97 %; positive predictive value 86 %; negative predictive value 77 %). CONCLUSIONS: CTA-SI-ASPECTS strongly predicts futile recanalization and could be a valuable tool for treatment decisions regarding the indication of revascularization therapies.
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Angiografía Cerebral/estadística & datos numéricos , Revascularización Cerebral/mortalidad , Angiografía por Tomografía Computarizada/estadística & datos numéricos , Interpretación de Imagen Radiográfica Asistida por Computador/métodos , Accidente Cerebrovascular/diagnóstico por imagen , Accidente Cerebrovascular/cirugía , Angiografía Cerebral/métodos , Revascularización Cerebral/métodos , Angiografía por Tomografía Computarizada/métodos , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Prevalencia , Pronóstico , Reproducibilidad de los Resultados , Estudios Retrospectivos , Factores de Riesgo , Sensibilidad y Especificidad , España/epidemiología , Accidente Cerebrovascular/mortalidad , Tasa de Supervivencia , Resultado del TratamientoRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: It has been debated whether the penumbral pattern, as identified using multimodal imaging, is a specific marker of tissue viability in ischemic stroke. We assessed whether perfusion computed tomography (PCT) accurately identifies salvageable tissue and helps predict postreperfusion outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective study of patients with anterior circulation stroke undergoing reperfusion therapies who had a PCT before treatment and an assessment of vessel recanalization post treatment was conducted. Tissue at risk was considered as that with reduced cerebral blood flow, whereas the infarct core was the region of reduced cerebral blood volume, the mismatch region being salvageable tissue. The volume of hypodensity in slices corresponding to perfusion acquisition cage in 24-hour computed tomography (partial lesion volume [PLV]) was measured. Outcome variables were the amount of preserved tissue, that is, the difference between volumes of tissue at risk and PLV expressed as a percentage, and the modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score at 3 months. RESULTS: Patients (n = 34) meeting the inclusion criteria were included. Vessel recanalization was associated with a larger amount of tissue at risk preserved from definite lesion (89% [interquartile range {IQR}: 76-94] versus 46% [IQR: 23-86], P < .005). The amount of preserved tissue correlated with clinical outcome at 24 hours: for each 10% of preserved tissue, the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score improved by 3 points (95% confidence interval [CI]: -4.9 to -.8, P = .007) and was the only predictor of independency (mRS score 0-2) following adjustment for covariates (odds ratio 1.15, 95% CI: 1.04-1.28, P = .005). CONCLUSIONS: PCT provides accurate markers of viability of tissue in acute ischemic stroke and could help predict the degree of improvement following reperfusion.
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Infarto Encefálico/diagnóstico por imagen , Angiografía Cerebral/métodos , Arterias Cerebrales/diagnóstico por imagen , Circulación Cerebrovascular , Tomografía Computarizada Multidetector , Imagen de Perfusión/métodos , Anciano , Infarto Encefálico/fisiopatología , Infarto Encefálico/terapia , Arterias Cerebrales/fisiopatología , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Oportunidad Relativa , Valor Predictivo de las Pruebas , Recuperación de la Función , Reperfusión , Estudios Retrospectivos , Supervivencia Tisular , Resultado del TratamientoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The complexity of endovascular revascularization treatment (ERT) in acute ischemic stroke and the small number of patients eligible for treatment justify the development of stroke center networks with interhospital patient transfers. However, this approach might result in futile transfers (ie, the transfer of patients who ultimately do not undergo ERT). Our aim was to analyze the frequency of these futile transfers and the reasons for discarding ERT and to identify the possible associated factors. METHODS: We analyzed an observational prospective ERT registry from a stroke collaboration ERT network consisting of 3 hospitals. There were interhospital transfers from the first attending hospital to the on-call ERT center for the patients for whom this therapy was indicated, either primarily or after intravenous thrombolysis (drip and shift). RESULTS: The ERT protocol was activated for 199 patients, 129 of whom underwent ERT (64.8%). A total of 120 (60.3%) patients required a hospital transfer, 50 of whom (41%) ultimately did not undergo ERT. There were no differences in their baseline characteristics, the times from stroke onset, or in the delays in interhospital transfers between the transferred patients who were treated and those who were not treated. The main reasons for rejecting ERT after the interhospital transfer were clinical improvement/arterial recanalization (48%) and neuroimaging criteria (32%). CONCLUSIONS: Forty-one percent of the ERT transfers were futile, but none of the baseline patient characteristics predicted this result. Futility could be reduced if repetition of unnecessary diagnostic tests was avoided.
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Isquemia Encefálica/epidemiología , Procedimientos Endovasculares/métodos , Inutilidad Médica , Transferencia de Pacientes/métodos , Accidente Cerebrovascular/epidemiología , Anciano , Isquemia Encefálica/diagnóstico , Isquemia Encefálica/cirugía , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Estudios Prospectivos , Sistema de Registros , España/epidemiología , Accidente Cerebrovascular/diagnóstico , Accidente Cerebrovascular/cirugía , Resultado del TratamientoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: It has been proposed that the deposition of the ß-amyloid peptide (Aß) in the brain parenchyma and brain blood vessels has deleterious effects. We tested the hypothesis that the levels of plasma Aß are related to the outcome in patients with intracerebral hemorrhage. METHODS: In a multicenter study, we prospectively included patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage within the first 24 hours after onset. At admission, we measured plasma Aß40 and Aß42 levels using ELISA techniques. Also, we recorded age, sex, vascular risk factors, National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, presence of intraventricular hemorrhage, localization, cause, and volume of the hematoma. We obtained the modified Rankin scale and defined a unfavorable outcome as modified Rankin scale >2 at 3 months. Bivariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: We studied 160 patients (mean age, 73.8±11.3 years; 59.4% of them were men). A favorable outcome was observed in 64 (40%) of the patients. In the bivariate analyses, unfavorable outcome was associated with high age, female sex, diabetes mellitus, presence of intraventricular hemorrhage, high blood glucose, high National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, high volume, and high plasma levels of Aß42 and Aß40. The multivariate analysis showed that increased age (odds ratio, 1.07; 95% confidence interval, 1.035-1.21; P<0.0001), high admission National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (odds ratio, 1.29, 95% confidence interval, 1.17-1.42; P<0.0001), presence of diabetes mellitus (odds ratio, 4.15; 95% confidence interval, 1.21-14.1; P=0.02), and Aß42 levels >9.7 pg/mL (odds ratio, 4.11; 95% confidence interval, 1.65-10.1; P=0.02) were independently associated with an increased likelihood of an unfavorable outcome. CONCLUSIONS: High levels of plasma Aß42 in patients with acute intracerebral hemorrhage are associated with a poor functional prognosis.
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Péptidos beta-Amiloides/sangre , Hemorragia Cerebral/sangre , Factores de Edad , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Intervalos de Confianza , Interpretación Estadística de Datos , Complicaciones de la Diabetes/sangre , Ensayo de Inmunoadsorción Enzimática , Femenino , Humanos , Masculino , Fragmentos de Péptidos/sangre , Pronóstico , Estudios Prospectivos , Análisis de Regresión , Factores Sexuales , Resultado del TratamientoRESUMEN
Although diabetes mellitus negatively affects post-ischaemic stroke injury and recovery, its impact on intracerebral haemorrhage (ICH) remains uncertain. This study aimed to investigate the effect of experimental diabetes (ED) on ICH-induced injury and neurological impairment. Sprague-Dawley rats were induced with ED 2 weeks before ICH induction. Animals were randomly assigned to four groups: 1)Healthy; 2)ICH; 3)ED; 4)ED-ICH. ICH and ED-ICH groups showed similar functional assessment. The ED-ICH group exhibited significantly lower haemorrhage volume compared with the ICH group, except at 1 mo. The oedema/ICH volume ratio and cistern displacement ratio were significantly higher in the ED-ICH group. Vascular markers revealed greater expression of α-SMA in the ED groups (ED and ED-ICH) compared with ICH. Conversely, the ICH groups (ED-ICH and ICH) exhibited higher levels of VEGF compared to the healthy and ED groups. An assessment of myelin tract integrity showed an increase in fractional anisotropy in the ED and ED-ICH groups compared with ICH. The ED group showed higher cryomyelin expression than the ED-ICH and ICH groups. Additionally, the ED groups (ED and ED-ICH) displayed higher expression of MOG and Olig-2 than ICH. As for inflammation, MCP-1 levels were significantly lower in the ED-ICH groups compared with the ICH group. Notably, ED did not aggravate the neurological outcome; however, it results in greater ICH-related brain oedema, greater brain structure displacement and lower haemorrhage volume. ED influences the cerebral vascularisation with an increase in vascular thickness, limits the inflammatory response and attenuates the deleterious effect of ICH on white matter integrity.
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Hemorragia Cerebral , Diabetes Mellitus Experimental , Ratas Sprague-Dawley , Animales , Hemorragia Cerebral/patología , Hemorragia Cerebral/metabolismo , Masculino , Diabetes Mellitus Experimental/complicaciones , Diabetes Mellitus Experimental/metabolismo , Ratas , Edema Encefálico/patología , Edema Encefálico/metabolismo , Edema Encefálico/etiología , Modelos Animales de Enfermedad , Encéfalo/metabolismo , Encéfalo/patologíaRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Unknown cardioembolic sources are frequent causes of cryptogenic stroke. We analyzed the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) or high burden of ectopic atrial activity (HBEA) in patients with cryptogenic stroke, assessing atrial function and 1-year outcomes. METHODS AND RESULTS: The ARIES (Atrial Imaging and Cardiac Rhythm in Cryptogenic Embolic Stroke) study is an observational study including patients with cryptogenic stroke. We analyzed the frequency of AF and HBEA (>3000 atrial ectopic beats/day or >2 bursts or atrial tachycardia between 3 beats and ≤30 seconds) in two 30-day Holter-ECGs, comparing advanced echocardiography signs of left atrial (LA) dysfunction according to rhythm: AF, HBEA, and normal sinus rhythm. We also evaluated 1-year stroke recurrence and mortality. The study included 109 patients; 35 (32.1%) patients had AF, 27 (24.8%) HBEA, and 47 (43.1%) normal sinus rhythm. Compared with those with normal sinus rhythm, patients with AF presented higher 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional LA indexed volumes (38.8±11.2 versus 27.3±11.8 mL/m2, and 50.6±17.2 versus 34.0±15.4 mL/m2, respectively, P<0.001), lower 3-dimensional LA ejection fraction (50±14.6 versus 62.7±11.8, P=0.001), LA reservoir strain (22.0±8.6 versus 30.4±10.5, P<0.001), and LA contraction strain (10.5±8.18 versus 17.1±7.5, P<0.001), remaining significant in multivariate analysis. Patients with HBEA showed higher LA indexed volumes and lower LA reservoir strain than patients with normal sinus rhythm only in univariate analysis. There were no differences in ischemic recurrence or mortality among the groups. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with cryptogenic stroke showed a high incidence of AF and HBEA. AF is strongly related to LA volume, LA function, and LA reservoir and contraction strain, whereas HBEA showed milder structural changes. Advanced LA echocardiography could help patient selection for long-term ECG monitoring in suspected cardiac sources.
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Fibrilación Atrial , Función del Atrio Izquierdo , Electrocardiografía Ambulatoria , Accidente Cerebrovascular Embólico , Recurrencia , Humanos , Masculino , Femenino , Fibrilación Atrial/fisiopatología , Fibrilación Atrial/complicaciones , Fibrilación Atrial/diagnóstico por imagen , Fibrilación Atrial/diagnóstico , Anciano , Persona de Mediana Edad , Accidente Cerebrovascular Embólico/etiología , Accidente Cerebrovascular Embólico/fisiopatología , Función del Atrio Izquierdo/fisiología , Atrios Cardíacos/diagnóstico por imagen , Atrios Cardíacos/fisiopatología , Frecuencia Cardíaca/fisiología , Factores de Riesgo , Complejos Atriales Prematuros/fisiopatología , Complejos Atriales Prematuros/diagnóstico , Complejos Atriales Prematuros/complicaciones , Complejos Atriales Prematuros/epidemiología , Ecocardiografía/métodos , Factores de Tiempo , Medición de Riesgo/métodosRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: Poststroke hyperglycaemia is an independent risk factor for poorer outcomes in patients treated with mechanical thrombectomy (MT) and is associated with a lower probability of functional recovery and higher mortality at 3 months. This study aims to evaluate the association between glucose levels during cerebral reperfusion with MT and functional recovery at 3 months, measured by subcutaneous continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) devices. METHODS: This prospective observational study aims to recruit 100 patients with ischaemic stroke and large anterior circulation vessel occlusion, in whom MT is indicated. CGM will be performed using a Freestyle Libre ProIQ device (FSL-CGM, Abbott Diabetes Care, Alameda, California, USA), which will be implanted on admission to the emergency department, to monitor glucose levels before, during and after reperfusion. The study's primary endpoint will be the functional status at 3 months, as measured by the dichotomised modified Rankin Scale (0-2 indicating good recovery and 3-6 indicating dependency or death). We will analyse expression profiles of microRNA (miRNA) at the time of reperfusion and 24 hours later, as potential biomarkers of ischaemic-reperfusion injury. The most promising miRNAs include miR-100, miR-29b, miR-339, miR-15a and miR-424. All patients will undergo treatment according to current international recommendations and local protocols for the treatment of stroke, including intravenous thrombolysis if indicated. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: This study (protocol V.1.1, dated 29 October 2021, code 6017) has been approved by the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of La Paz University Hospital (Madrid, Spain) and has been registered in ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05871502). Study results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications in Open Access format and at conference presentations. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT05871502.
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Glucemia , Accidente Cerebrovascular Isquémico , Daño por Reperfusión , Trombectomía , Humanos , Estudios Prospectivos , Accidente Cerebrovascular Isquémico/terapia , Accidente Cerebrovascular Isquémico/cirugía , Trombectomía/métodos , Daño por Reperfusión/terapia , Glucemia/metabolismo , Glucemia/análisis , Hiperglucemia/complicaciones , Estudios Observacionales como Asunto , Masculino , MicroARNs , Recuperación de la Función , FemeninoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Intracranial amyloid and hypertensive angiopathy have been related to impaired blood vessel function and the etiology of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Microbleeds (MBs) are surrogate radiological markers that are associated with these underlying angiopathies. We assessed the hypothesis that MBs are associated with hematoma expansion (HE) in patients with hyperacute ICH. METHODS: We studied patients with spontaneous supratentorial ICH within the first 6 h after onset. HE was defined as an increase≥33% in the volume of hematoma on the follow-up CT in comparison with the admission CT. The volume was calculated using the ABC/2 formula. MBs were detected by specific magnetic resonance sequences (gradient-echo). The presence, number and distribution of MBs were analyzed. RESULTS: Our study included 44 patients. Their mean age was 68.9±11.1 years, and 70.5% of them were men. HE was observed in 14 of the patients (31.8%). HE was more prevalent in patients with more than 10 MBs compared with patients with 1-10 MBs (60 vs 12.5%; p=0.03). CONCLUSION: A high burden of MBs is associated with an increased risk of HE in patients with ICH. This is probably a marker of a more severe underlying angiopathy.
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Hematoma/patología , Hemorragias Intracraneales/patología , Enfermedad Aguda , Anciano , Femenino , Estudios de Seguimiento , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Factores de RiesgoRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Cerebral microbleeds in critically ill patients have been a reported complication of COVID-19. However, they have also been described in patients with other respiratory infections and conditions requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Here, we aim to describe the clinical characteristics of critical illness-associated cerebral microbleeds and compare COVID-19 cases with those related to other conditions. METHODS: We performed a systematic literature review in PubMed and Embase for Critical Illness-Associated Cerebral Microbleeds to describe the clinical characteristics of this entity, in both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients. RESULTS: Of 157 manuscripts screened, 23 were included, totalling 143 cases (median age 61, interquartile range [IQR] 54-66), 104 (73 %) men. SARS-CoV2-associated pneumonia was found in 105 (73 %) cases. The median ICU stay was 34 (IQR 26-42) days and the median mechanical ventilation time was 24 (IQR 14-35) days. Cerebral microbleeds were more frequently juxtacortical (79 %) or located in the corpus callosum (75 %) and deep white matter (71 %) for both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 individuals, whilst brainstem location was more frequent in non-COVID-19 patients (37 % vs 13 %; p = 0.02). Non-COVID-19 patients were younger (median age 42, IQR 30-54 years) than COVID-19 patients (median age 62, IQR 57-67 years; p < 0.001), and the median platelet count was significantly higher (200,000; IQR 116,000-284,000 ng/dL) in COVID-19 patients than non-COVID-19 patients (50,000; IQR 39,000-61,000 ng/mL; (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In this systematic review, most patients presented respiratory failure with prolonged mechanical ventilation and ICU stay. Juxtacortical white matter and corpus callosum are characteristic locations of critical illness-associated microbleeds.
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COVID-19 , Masculino , Humanos , Persona de Mediana Edad , Adulto , Femenino , COVID-19/complicaciones , Enfermedad Crítica/epidemiología , SARS-CoV-2 , Pandemias , ARN Viral , Unidades de Cuidados Intensivos , Respiración Artificial , Hemorragia Cerebral/etiología , Hemorragia Cerebral/complicaciones , Estudios RetrospectivosRESUMEN
Objectives: Deficits affecting hand motor skills negatively impact the quality of life of patients. The NeuroData Tracker platform has been developed for the objective and precise evaluation of hand motor deficits. We describe the design and development of the platform and analyse the technological feasibility and usability in a relevant clinical setting. Methods: A software application was developed in Unity (C#) to obtain kinematic data from hand movement tracking by a portable device with two cameras and three infrared sensors (leap motion®). Four exercises were implemented: (a) wrist flexion-extension (b) finger-grip opening-closing (c) finger spread (d) fist opening-closing. The most representative kinematic parameters were selected for each exercise. A script in Python was integrated in the platform to transform real-time kinematic data into relevant information for the clinician. The application was tested in a pilot study comparing the data provided by the tool from ten healthy subjects without any motor impairment and ten patients diagnosed with a stroke with mild to moderate hand motor deficit. Results: The NeuroData Tracker allowed the parameterization of kinematics of hand movement and the issuance of a report with the results. The comparison of the data obtained suggests the feasibility of the tool for detecting differences between patients and healthy subjects. Conclusions: This new platform based on optical motion capturing provides objective measurement of hand movement allowing quantification of motor deficits. These findings require further validation of the tool in larger trials to verify its usefulness in the clinical setting.
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Circulating extracellular vesicles (EVs) are proposed to participate in enhancing pathways of recovery after stroke through paracrine signaling. To verify this hypothesis in a proof-of-concept study, blood-derived allogenic EVs from rats and xenogenic EVs from humans who experienced spontaneous good recovery after an intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) were administered intravenously to rats at 24 h after a subcortical ICH. At 28 days, both treatments improved the motor function assessment scales score, showed greater fiber preservation in the perilesional zone (diffusion tensor-fractional anisotropy MRI), increased immunofluorescence markers of myelin (MOG), and decreased astrocyte markers (GFAP) compared with controls. Comparison of the protein cargo of circulating EVs at 28 days from animals with good vs. poor recovery showed down-expression of immune system activation pathways (CO4, KLKB1, PROC, FA9, and C1QA) and of restorative processes such as axon guidance (RAC1), myelination (MBP), and synaptic vesicle trafficking (SYN1), which is in line with better tissue preservation. Up-expression of PCSK9 (neuron differentiation) in xenogenic EVs-treated animals suggests enhancement of repair pathways. In conclusion, the administration of blood-derived EVs improved recovery after ICH. These findings open a new and promising opportunity for further development of restorative therapies to improve the outcomes after an ICH.
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BACKGROUND: Patients who present with symptoms mimicking ischaemic stroke (IS), but have a different diagnosis, are known as stroke mimics (SM). The necessity for rapid administration of intravenous thrombolysis in patients with acute IS may lead to treatment of patients with conditions mimicking stroke. A variable proportion of patients with SM (1.4-14%) are currently treated with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator therapy (IV-tPA). The outcome of these patients is generally favourable and complications are rather infrequent. We aimed to determine the frequency, clinical features and prognosis of SM patients treated with IV-tPA in an experienced stroke centre. METHODS: A prospective registry was assembled with patients treated with IV-tPA at our stroke unit from January 2004 to December 2011. We recorded age, gender, baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score, treatment delay, vascular risk factors, clinical syndrome and aetiology. We retrospectively analysed the clinical characteristics of SM, safety (symptomatic intracranial haemorrhage and mortality) and outcome measures (modified Rankin Scale at 3 months, mRS) and compared them with IS patients. RESULTS: 621 patients were treated with IV-tPA during the study period, 606 (97.5%) were IS and 15 (2.4%) were SM. The aetiology of SM was somatoform disorders (5), headache and neurological deficits with cerebrospinal fluid lymphocytosis (HaNDL) syndrome (3), herpetic encephalitis (2), glial tumours (2), and migraine with aura, focal seizure and cortical vein thrombosis in single cases. SM were younger (72 ± 14 vs. 53.7 ± 16 years, p < 0.05), had a lower baseline deficit [NIHSS 13 (9-18) vs. 8 (5-10), p < 0.05], fewer vascular risk factors, and left hemisphere symptoms were predominant (80 vs. 52.4%, p < 0.05). Global aphasia without hemiparesis (GAWH) was the presenting symptom in 8 (54%) SM and 44 (7%) IS (p < 0.05). Multimodal computed tomography was performed in 3 SM patients and showed perfusion deficits in 2 of them. No intracranial haemorrhage or disability (functional outcome at 3 months, mRS >2) was recorded in any SM patient. CONCLUSIONS: The use of intravenous thrombolysis appears to be safe in our SM patients, and prognosis is universally favourable. Somatoform disorder and HaNDL syndrome were prominent causes, and GAWH the most common presentation. The safety of thrombolysis in SM suggests that delaying or withholding treatment may be inappropriate: the benefit of thrombolysis in case of IS may outweigh the risks of treating an SM. Further studies may assess the future role of multimodal computed tomography in the differential diagnosis between IS and SM.