Microemboli After Successful Thrombectomy Do Not Affect Outcome but Predict New Embolic Events.

Background and Purpose- We aimed to determine if microemboli after endovascular thrombectomy correlate with unfavorable outcomes despite successful recanalization. Methods- This is a prospective multicenter study of consecutive patients with ischemic stroke and occlusion of anterior circulation vessels (terminal internal carotid or main trunk of the middle cerebral artery/first-order branch of the main trunk of the middle cerebral artery segments of middle cerebral artery) after successful thrombectomy (modified Treatment In Cerebral Ischemia grades 2b-3). Microembolic signals (MES) were assessed by 30 minutes of transcranial Doppler monitoring within 72 hours of the last-seen-well time. Major outcomes included modified Rankin Scale at 90 days and infarct volume on head computed tomography at 24 hours. We also assessed early outcomes based on National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale variation and recurrence of stroke, transient ischemic attack, or systemic embolism within 90 days. Results- Among 111 patients, MES were detected in 43 (39%), with a median rate of 4 counts/h (interquartile range 2-12). The occurrence of MES was not associated with a significant difference in modified Rankin Scale (ordinal shift analysis, adjusted odds ratio, 1.06 [95% CI, 0.48-2.34] P=0.85) nor in functional independence (modified Rankin Scale, 0-2: adjusted odds ratio, 0.52 [95% CI, 0.19-1.39] P=0.19). Patients with and without MES had similar infarct volumes (adjusted beta, 11.2 [95% CI, -46.6 to +22.9] P=0.51) on 24-hour computed tomography. MES did predict new embolic events (adjusted Cox hazard ratio, 6.78 [95% CI, 1.63-27.8] P=0.01). Conclusions- MES detected by transcranial Doppler following endovascular treatment of anterior circulation occlusions do not predict clinical or radiological outcome. However, such emboli are an independent marker of recurrent embolic events within 90 days.

Lung and Pleural Immunoglobulin G4-Related Disease: Two Contrasting Case Reports.

Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is an immunomediated disease that can virtually affect any organ. Despite the pancreas being known as the most frequently involved organ, pulmonary and pleural IgG4-RD is being increasingly reported. The authors present two cases of IgG4-RD diagnosed in the same year, with different presentations and outcomes, in which the lung and pleural involvement were essential for the diagnosis. Recognizing IgG4-RD as a possible cause of chronic pleural effusion and/or thickening and lung abnormalities is important for an early diagnosis and prognosis improvement.