ABSTRACT
Background and Objectives@#Prior studies have shown that stroke patients treated with percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) for non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) experience better outcomes than similar patients treated with warfarin. We investigated the impact of percutaneous left atrial appendage closure on post-stroke neurological outcomes in NVAF patients, compared with non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC) therapy. @*Methods@#Medical records for 1,427 patients in multiple registries and for 1,792 consecutive patients at 6 Korean hospitals were reviewed with respect to LAAO or NOAC treatment.Stroke severity in patients who experienced ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack after either treatment was assessed with modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scoring at hospital discharge and at 3 and 12 months post-stroke. @*Results@#mRS scores were significantly lower in LAAO patients at 3 (p<0.01) and 12 months (p<0.01) post-stroke, despite no significant differences in scores before the ischemic cerebrovascular event (p=0.22). The occurrences of disabling ischemic stroke in the LAAO and NOAC groups were 36.7% and 44.2% at discharge (p=0.47), 23.3% and 44.2% at 3 months post-stroke (p=0.04), and 13.3% and 43.0% at 12 months post-stroke (p=0.01), respectively.Recovery rates for disabling ischemic stroke at discharge to 12 months post-stroke were significantly higher for LAAO patients (50.0%) than for NOAC patients (5.6%) (p<0.01). @*Conclusions@#Percutaneous LAAO was associated with more favorable neurological outcomes after ischemic cerebrovascular event than NOAC treatment.
ABSTRACT
Background and Objectives@#Prior studies have shown that stroke patients treated with percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) for non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) experience better outcomes than similar patients treated with warfarin. We investigated the impact of percutaneous left atrial appendage closure on post-stroke neurological outcomes in NVAF patients, compared with non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant (NOAC) therapy. @*Methods@#Medical records for 1,427 patients in multiple registries and for 1,792 consecutive patients at 6 Korean hospitals were reviewed with respect to LAAO or NOAC treatment.Stroke severity in patients who experienced ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack after either treatment was assessed with modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scoring at hospital discharge and at 3 and 12 months post-stroke. @*Results@#mRS scores were significantly lower in LAAO patients at 3 (p<0.01) and 12 months (p<0.01) post-stroke, despite no significant differences in scores before the ischemic cerebrovascular event (p=0.22). The occurrences of disabling ischemic stroke in the LAAO and NOAC groups were 36.7% and 44.2% at discharge (p=0.47), 23.3% and 44.2% at 3 months post-stroke (p=0.04), and 13.3% and 43.0% at 12 months post-stroke (p=0.01), respectively.Recovery rates for disabling ischemic stroke at discharge to 12 months post-stroke were significantly higher for LAAO patients (50.0%) than for NOAC patients (5.6%) (p<0.01). @*Conclusions@#Percutaneous LAAO was associated with more favorable neurological outcomes after ischemic cerebrovascular event than NOAC treatment.
ABSTRACT
Cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) is an uncommon cause of stroke that mainly affects young adults with known risk factors of prothrombotic conditions, pregnancy, infection, malignancy, and drugs. Dutasteride is a 5α-reductase inhibitor that is used for benign prostate hypertrophy and androgenetic alopecia. To date, CVT caused by dutasteride use has not been reported. A 25-yearold male presented with headache and diplopia. He had taken 0.5 mg of dutasteride every other day for 9 months to treat alopecia. A headache developed 7 months after he started taking medication, and horizontal diplopia occurred 1 month after the onset of headache. Fundus examination showed bilateral papilledema. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed thrombosis in the left sigmoid and transverse sinuses. Headache and diplopia improved after discontinuing dutasteride and starting anticoagulation. The results from this case report indicated dutasteride as a potential cause of CVT. Presumably, the increased estrogen level due to dutasteride use caused the formation of a thrombus.
ABSTRACT
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive form of muscular dystrophy caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene. Patients with DMD are more likely to have cerebral infarction than normal populations, possibly due to low ejection fraction and cardiomyopathy, and also higher epilepsy prevalence. Careful history taking and neurological examination are needed for differentiating new symptoms from preexisting weakness in DMD. Here, we present a young male with DMD and acute ischemic stroke followed by recurrent seizures.
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No abstract available.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Human infection with Streptococcus suis (S. suis), a zoonotic pathogen, has been reported mainly in pig-rearing and pork-consuming countries. Meningitis is the most-common clinical manifestation and is often associated with deafness and vestibular dysfunction. CASE REPORT: A 57-year-old man was referred to the hospital with headaches, fevers, chills, and hearing impairment. Meningitis was confirmed and S. suis was isolated from the cerebrospinal fluid. Spondylodiscitis occurred after 2 weeks of antibiotic treatment, and was successfully treated with a prolonged course of antibiotics for another 4 weeks. His hearing loss was irreversible despite the improvement of other symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: We report the first human case of S. suis infection in Korea. In patients presenting with meningitis, S. suis should be considered if the characteristic features of prominent and early hearing loss are present.
Subject(s)
Humans , Middle Aged , Anti-Bacterial Agents , Chills , Deafness , Discitis , Fever , Headache , Hearing Loss , Korea , Meningitis , Streptococcus , Streptococcus suisABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Hyperintense vessel sign (HVS) on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery imaging (FLAIR) is an indicator of slow flow and early ischemia. This study tested the hypothesis that HVS in the posterior circulation is associated with a worse outcome. METHODS: We retrospectively included 64 stroke patients with posterior circulation steno-occlusion within 6 hours of symptom onset and reviewed early neurological deterioration (END). END was defined as an increase in National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score of 4 or more from baseline during the first week. We analyzed demographic and laboratory information followed by an assessment of the magnetic resonance images. In addition, we assessed the posterior circulation Albert Stroke Program Early CT Score (pc-ASPECTS) on diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI). RESULTS: Among the 64 patients who met the inclusion criteria, END was seen in 17 patients. On univariate analysis, these END patients had higher baseline NIHSS scores and elevated initial systolic blood pressure (iSBP). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed pc-ASPECTS (p=0.007), HVS on FLAIR (p=0.011), and iSBP (p=0.016) as independent predictors of END. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of HVS on FLAIR in the posterior circulation might indicate the presence of more severe ischemic penumbrae and END. pc-ASPECTS may also be an independent predictor of functional outcome.
Subject(s)
Humans , Blood Pressure , Glycosaminoglycans , Infarction , Ischemia , Logistic Models , Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy , Retrospective Studies , StrokeABSTRACT
The etiology of ischemic stroke in young adults often remains unclear. Extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) vasospasm is uncommon and has been reported in only a few cases. We present a case of migrainous headache and recurrent ischemic stroke due to recurrent extracranial ICA vasospasm without evidence of carotid artery dissection or fibromuscular dysplasia.
Subject(s)
Humans , Young Adult , Carotid Arteries , Carotid Artery, Internal , Cerebral Infarction , Fibromuscular Dysplasia , Headache , StrokeABSTRACT
Primary angiitis of the central nervous system (PACNS) is a rare disorder of unknown etiology and a serious form of vasculitis that is limited to the brain and spinal cord. We report a case of PACNS presenting with multifocal enhancing tumefactive lesions on brain magnetic resonance imaging, and numerous small arteriolar ectasias on conventional angiography, with relapsing-remitting clinical features.