Inactivated COVID-19 vaccine induced acute stroke-like focal neurologic symptoms: a case series.

BACKGROUND: A subgroup of individuals experienced stroke-like symptoms after receiving an inactivated COVID-19 vaccine. We present clinical characteristics, neuroimaging, and outcome of these patients. METHODS: Medical personals who had neurological symptoms after receiving inactivated COVID-19 vaccine were enrolled. Clinical, laboratory investigation and neuroimaging were collected. Subjects were prospectively followed-up on clinical and neuroimaging to detect brain parenchymal or cerebrovascular abnormality. RESULTS: Nineteen out of 385 subjects (4.9%) developed neurological symptoms after vaccination. There was a female predominance (89.5%) with mean age of 34 ± 7.5 years. Majority of patients (52.6%) had symptoms within 60 min after vaccination. The most common neurological symptoms were numbness (94.7%) followed by headache (52.6%) and weakness (47.4%). The most common neurological signs were sensory deficit (79%) followed by motor weakness (52.6%) and tongue deviation (26.3%). Recurrent headache was observed in most patients (89.5%) during followed up. Serial brain imaging was done in all patients with median follow-up interval of 18 days. There was no evidence of acute brain infarction in any of the patients, 84.2% had no vascular abnormality, 15.8% had transient focal narrowing of cerebral vessels. Outcome was favorable, modified ranking scale 0-1 for all patients at 4 weeks after vaccination. CONCLUSIONS: Transient focal neurological symptoms and deficits can be found after COVID-19 vaccination. However, benefit to stop COVID-19 pandemic by vaccination is outweighed by these seemingly reversible side effects. The pathophysiology underlined these phenomena should be further investigated.

Acute prolonged motor aura resembling ischemic stroke after COVID - 19 vaccination (CoronaVac): the first case report.

BACKGROUND: We report the first case of a patient who suffered transient focal neurological deficit mimicking stroke following CoronaVac vaccination. However, instead of an ischemic stroke, motor aura was suspected. CASE PRESENTATIONS: A 24 year-old Thai female presented with left hemiparesis fifteen minutes after receiving CoronaVac. She also had numbness of her left arm and legs, flashing lights, and headaches. On physical examination, her BMI was 32.8. Her vital signs were normal. She had moderate left hemiparesis (MRC grade III), numbness on her left face, arms, and legs. Her weakness continued for 5 days. A brain CT scan was done showing no evidence of acute infarction. Acute treatment with aspirin was given. MRI in conjunction with MRA was performed in which no restricted diffusion was seen. A SPECT was performed to evaluate the function of the brain showing significant hypoperfusion of the right hemisphere. The patient gradually improved and was discharged. DISCUSSIONS: In this study, we present the first case of stroke mimic after CoronaVac vaccination. After negative imaging studies had been performed repeatedly, we reach a conclusion that stroke is unlikely to be the cause. Presumably, this phenomenon could possibly have abnormal functional imaging study. Therefore, we believed that it might be due to cortical spreading depression, like migraine aura, which we had conducted a literature review.

Incidence and Risk Factors of Postcontrast Acute Kidney Injury in Patients with Acute Ischemic Stroke.

BACKGROUND: Multimodal computed tomography (CT) guides decision-making regarding use of thrombolytic agents in acute ischemic stroke patients. However, postcontrast acute kidney injury (PC-AKI) is a potential adverse effect of the contrast media used, which may require hemodialysis and cause a longer hospital stay. The incidence and risk factors of PC-AKI in acute ischemic stroke patients, particularly in Thailand, remain unclear. Goal. We aimed at determining the incidence and risk factors of PC-AKI in patients with acute ischemic stroke undergoing multimodal CT. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of Thai acute ischemic stroke patients admitted to the King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital between January 2014 and December 2017 who received multimodal CT and thrombolytic treatment with alteplase. RESULT: Overall, 109 patients were included for analysis; eight patients (7.3%) developed PC-AKI. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≤ 30 mL/min and mechanical thrombectomy were risk factors significantly associated with PC-AKI. CONCLUSION: The incidence of PC-AKI in a real practice setting did not differ from previous reports. Two factors were associated with PC-AKI, eGFR ≤ 30 mL/min and mechanical thrombectomy. Patients without these risk factors may not need to wait for the results of renal function testing prior to multimodal CT.

Curcumin prevents reperfusion injury following ischemic stroke in rats via inhibition of NF­κB, ICAM-1, MMP-9 and caspase-3 expression.

Reperfusion is the only approved therapy for acute ischemic stroke; however, it can cause excessive inflammation responses and aggravate brain damage. Therefore, supplementary treatment against inflammation caused by reperfusion is required. In a previous study from our group, curcumin was demonstrated to decrease infarction volume, brain edema and blood­brain barrier (BBB) disruption against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The present study was conducted to understand whether curcumin protects against cerebral I/R injury through anti­inflammatory and antiapoptotic properties. Ischemia for 1 h was induced in vivo in Wistar rats by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), followed by reperfusion for 24 h, and curcumin was injected intraperitoneally at 30 min prior to reperfusion. Immunohistochemistry was performed to analyze the expression levels of nuclear factor (NF)­κB, intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)­1, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)­9 and caspase­3. The findings revealed that inflammation (NF­κB, ICAM­1 and MMP­9) and apoptosis (caspase­3)­related markers were significantly downregulated in the curcumin­treated MCAO group compared with the vehicle­treated MCAO group. Furthermore, brain infarction size, brain edema and neurological dysfunction were attenuated in the curcumin­treated MCAO group compared with the vehicle­treated MCAO group. Taken together, the present results provided evidence that the protective effect of curcumin against cerebral I/R injury might be mediated by anti­inflammatory and anti­apoptotic properties. Therefore, curcumin may be a promising supplementary agent against cerebral I/R injury in the future.

Factors predicting high estimated 10-year stroke risk: thai epidemiologic stroke study.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of the study was to determine the factors predicting high estimated 10-year stroke risk based on a risk score, and among the risk factors comprising the risk score, which factors had a greater impact on the estimated risk. METHODS: Thai Epidemiologic Stroke study was a community-based cohort study, which recruited participants from the general population from 5 regions of Thailand. Cross-sectional baseline data of 16,611 participants aged 45-69 years who had no history of stroke were included in this analysis. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify the predictors of high estimated 10-year stroke risk based on the risk score of the Japan Public Health Center Study, which estimated the projected 10-year risk of incident stroke. RESULTS: Educational level, low personal income, occupation, geographic area, alcohol consumption, and hypercholesterolemia were significantly associated with high estimated 10-year stroke risk. Among these factors, unemployed/house work class had the highest odds ratio (OR, 3.75; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.47-5.69) followed by illiterate class (OR, 2.30; 95% CI, 1.44-3.66). Among risk factors comprising the risk score, the greatest impact as a stroke risk factor corresponded to age, followed by male sex, diabetes mellitus, systolic blood pressure, and current smoking. CONCLUSIONS: Socioeconomic status, in particular, unemployed/house work and illiterate class, might be good proxy to identify the individuals at higher risk of stroke. The most powerful risk factors were older age, male sex, diabetes mellitus, systolic blood pressure, and current smoking.

Risk of metabolic syndrome for stroke is not greater than the sum of its components: Thai Epidemiologic Stroke (TES) study.

Limited information is available on the association between the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and stroke. Whether or not MetS confers a risk greater than the sum of its components is controversial. This study aimed to assess the association of MetS with stroke, and to evaluate whether the risk of MetS is greater than the sum of its components. The Thai Epidemiologic Stroke (TES) study is a community-based cohort study with 19,997 participants, aged 45-80 years, recruited from the general population from 5 regions of Thailand. Baseline survey data were analyzed in cross-sectional analyses. MetS was defined according to criteria from the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Adult Treatment Panel III, the American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (revised NCEP), and International Diabetes Federation (IDF). Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate association of MetS and its components with stroke. Using c statistics and the likelihood ratio test we compared the capability of discriminating participants with and without stroke of a logistic model containing all components of MetS and potential confounders and a model also including the MetS variable. We found that among the MetS components, high blood pressure and hypertriglyceridemia were independently and significantly related to stroke. MetS defined by the NCEP (odds ratio [OR], 1.64; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.32-2.04), revised NCEP (OR, 2.27; 95% CI, 1.80-2.87), and IDF definitions (OR, 1.70; 95% CI, 1.37-2.13) was significantly associated with stroke after adjustment for age, sex, geographical area, education level, occupation, smoking status, alcohol consumption, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. After additional adjustment for all MetS components, these associations were not significant. There were no statistically significant difference (P=.723-.901) in c statistics between the model containing all MetS components and potential confounders and the model also including the MetS variable. The likelihood ratio test also showed no statistically significant (P=.166-.718) difference between these 2 models. Our findings suggest that MetS is associated with stroke, but not to a greater degree than the sum of its components. Thus, the focus should be on identification and appropriate control of its individual components, particularly high blood pressure and hypertriglyceridemia, rather than of MetS itself.

Efficacy and safety of combination antiplatelet therapies in patients with symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: An optimal strategy for management of symptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic stenosis (ICAS) has not yet been established. We compared the efficacy of 2 combinations of antiplatelets, aspirin plus cilostazol (cilostazol group) verus aspirin plus clopidogrel (clopidogrel group), on the progression of ICAS, which is known to be associated with clinical stroke recurrence. METHODS: In this investigator-initiated double-blind trial, 457 patients with acute symptomatic stenosis in the M1 segment of the middle cerebral artery or the basilar artery were randomly allocated into either a cilostazol group or a clopidogrel group. After 7 months of treatment, follow-up MR angiogram and MRI were performed. The primary end point was the progression of ICAS in comparison with stenosis on the baseline MR angiogram. Secondary end points included the occurrence of new ischemic lesions on MRI, composite of cardiovascular events, and major bleeding complications. RESULTS: Cardiovascular events occurred in 15 of 232 patients (6.4%) in the cilostazol group and 10 of 225 (4.4%) in the clopidogrel group (P=0.312). Cilostazol did not reduce the progression of symptomatic ICAS (20 of 202) compared to clopidogrel (32 of 207) (odds ratio, 0.61; P=0.092), although favorable changes in serum lipoproteins were observed in the cilostazol group. There were no significant differences between the 2 groups with respect to new ischemic lesions (18.7% versus 12.0%; P=0.078) and major hemorrhagic complications (0.9% versus 2.6%; P=0.163). CONCLUSIONS: This trial failed to show significant difference in preventing progression of ICAS and new ischemic lesions between the 2 combination antiplatelet therapies in the patients with symptomatic ICAS. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00130039.

Prevalence of stroke and stroke risk factors in Thailand: Thai Epidemiologic Stroke (TES) Study.

OBJECTIVE: To assess stroke prevalence and stroke risk factors in Thailand. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Thai Epidemiologic Stroke (TES) Study is an ongoing, community based cohort study that has been conducted in five geographic regions of Thailand. Baseline health status survey was started in 2004 and enrollment continued until the end of 2006. All participants who were suspicious of being stroke victims were verified. In this analysis, baseline data of 19,997 participants aged 45 to 80 years were identified and analyzed as a cross-sectional analysis. RESULTS: Three hundred and seventy six subjects were proved to have a stroke thus resulting the crude prevalence of stroke to be 1.88% (95% CI, 1.69 to 2.07). Age standardization to Segi world standard population was 1.81% (95% CI, 1.62 to 1.99). Crude prevalence among adults aged > or = 65 years was 2.70% (95% CI, 2.28 to 3.11). Stroke prevalence differed among five geographic regions of the country (Bangkok 3.34%, Central region 2.41%, Southern 2.29%, Northern 1.46% and Northeastern 1.09%). Using multiple logistic regression analysis, factors associated with higher stroke prevalence were male gender (p < 0.001), occupational class (p < 0.001), geographic region (p < 0.001), hypertension (p < 0.001), diabetes mellitus (p = 0.002) and hypercholesterolemia (p = 0.026). CONCLUSION: Stroke prevalence in Thailand from TES study is higher than previous studies, but it is lower than developed countries, probably due to high case fatality rate in Thai population. Geographic variation in stroke prevalence is found more in Bangkok, Central and Southern regions. Longitudinal follow-up of TES cohort study will provide further information on risk factors and incidence of stroke.

The Atorvastatin Goal Achievement Across Risk Levels: (ATGOAL) study in Thailand.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of atorvastatin at the starting doses of 10, 20, 40 mg and evaluate the effectiveness of 1 step titrate up regimen. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Two hundred and forty two subjects with dyslipidemia were enrolled and assigned the appropriate dose in relation to their individual cardiovascular risk status and baseline LDL-C levels. If the NCEP targets were not achieved, the doses were titrated up at week 4 and the primary efficacy was evaluated at week 8. RESULTS: A majority of subjects (88.8%) achieved their LDL-C goals at week 8. Almost all of the subject's LDL-C levels reached their goals by week 2 and 4 (81.6% and 87.1%, respectively). Only 10.7% (n = 25) required the sole titration. Each dose provided significant decreases in LDL-C (average -46.4%). Only 36 subjects experienced treatment related adverse events, the majority of these were in the high-risk group (n = 22) with only one subject registering a serious adverse event. CONCLUSION: Atorvastatin is effective and safe for Thai patients with dyslipidemia. The appropriate starting dose has contributed in the achievement of cholesterol reduction.

Combination of acute stroke unit and short-term stroke ward with early supported discharge decreases mortality and complications after acute ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND: The stroke unit has been established as a standard care for stroke. However, it has not been widely established in developing countries due to the lack of understanding and limited resources. OBJECTIVE: To compare the complications and mortality of stroke patients admitted in the stroke unit and short-term ward with those admitted in the general medical ward. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The authors prospectively collected data of acute stroke patients who were admitted after the set up of the stroke unit and stroke short-term ward in 2003, and compared with the data of those who were admitted in a general medical ward in 2001. All acute stroke patients who presented within seven days of the onset were admitted and those who had final diagnosis of ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) were studied. Patients in the stroke unit were taken care of by a multidisciplinary team approach under clinical guidelines and a care map. The short-term ward is a part of the general medical ward and stroke patients were treated by a multidisciplinary team followed by homecare treatment. The endpoints were mortality rate, neurological and medical complications during admissions, and the mean length of stay. RESULTS: Seven hundred and ninety-four patients were studied. Three hundred and eighty-seven patients were admitted in 2001 and 407 patients in 2003. Among patients presented 2003, three hundred and one cases were treated in the acute stroke unit whereas 106 were admitted in the short-term ward. There was no difference in stroke risk factors and stroke subtypes between the two groups, except for dyslipidemia and cigarette smoking, which were more prevalent in patients admitted in 2003. Patients in the stroke unit and the short-term ward had significantly less mortality than those in the general medical ward (8.9 and 2.1%). Overall complications in the stroke unit and the short-term ward were 16.8%, compared to 26% of those admitted into the general medical ward. Significantly less brain edema, hemorrhagic infarction, urinary tract infection, pneumonia, and pressure sore were also observed. The length of hospital stay of the patients admitted in 2001 and 2003 was 11.26 and 8.09 days, respectively. CONCLUSION: Combination of organized acute stroke unit and short-term ward with early supported discharge reduces the mortality and complications of ischemic stroke patients during admission as well as the length of stay when compared to the general medical ward. The present study reassures that the combination is useful for hospitals in developing countries, which have limited number of beds in their stroke units.