Tirofiban versus aspirin to prevent in-stent thrombosis after emergent carotid artery stenting in acute ischemic stroke.

BACKGROUND: Several antithrombotic treatments during emergent carotid artery stenting (eCAS) have been proposed, but an appropriate protocol to balance risk-benefit is not well known. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy and safety of tirofiban compared with aspirin in patients with acute ischemic stroke undergoing eCAS. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective single-center study of the prospective ARTISTA Registry, including patients with atherosclerotic internal carotid artery occlusion treated with eCAS. Two groups, according to antiplatelet drug, were studied: aspirin (250-500 mg single-dose) versus tirofiban (500 µg bolus+200 µg/h). Primary outcomes were the rate of in-stent thrombosis and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) within the first 24 hours. RESULTS: During the period 2019-2023, 181 patients were included, 103 received aspirin, 78 tirofiban; 149 (82.3%) had tandem lesions. The primary efficacy outcome occurred in 9 (9.4%) in the aspirin group, as compared with 1 (1.3%) in the tirofiban group (adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=0.11, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.98; P=0.048). The primary safety outcome was detected in 12 (11.7%) in the aspirin group, as compared with 2 (2.6%) in the tirofiban group (aOR=0.16, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.87; P=0.034). The tirofiban group presented a lower risk of parenchymal hemorrhage (18 (17.4%) vs 4 (5.2%), aOR=0.27, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.88; P=0.029) and an increased rate of excellent recanalization (expanded Treatment in Cerebral Infarction (eTICI) 2c-3) (50 (48.5%) vs 54 (69.2%); aOR=2.15, 95% CI 1.12 to 4.13; P=0.02). There were no differences in functional outcomes or mortality at 3 months. CONCLUSIONS: Periprocedural antithrombotic therapy with tirofiban was associated with a lower risk of in-stent thrombosis and sICH at 24 hours from eCAS compared with aspirin. Prospective randomized clinical trials are needed to confirm our results.

Four functional magnetic resonance imaging techniques for skeletal muscle exploration, a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: The study of muscle health has become more relevant lately, due to global aging and a higher incidence of musculoskeletal pathologies. Current exploration techniques, such as electromyography, do not provide accurate spatial information. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this work is to perform a systematic review of the literature to synthesize the contributions that can offer functional MRI techniques commonly used in neuroimaging, applied to skeletal muscle: Blood Oxygen Level Dependent (BOLD), IntraVoxel Incoherent Motion (IVIM), Arterial Spin Labeling (ASL) and Dynamic Contrast Enhanced (DCE). EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: Web of Science and Medline databases were searched, over the last 10 years, focused on the use of BOLD, ASL, IVIM or DCE in skeletal muscle. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: 59 articles were included after applying the selection criteria. 37 studies were performed in healthy subjects, and 22 in patients with different pathologies: in peripheral arterial disease, systemic sclerosis, diabetes, osteoporosis, adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, and dermatomyositis. Reference values in healthy subjects still vary in some cases. CONCLUSION: The studies show the feasibility of implementing functional MRI through BOLD, ASL, IVIM or DCE imaging in several muscles and their possible utility in different pathologies. A synthesis of how to implement such exploration is given here. CLINICAL IMPACT: These four techniques are based on sequences already present in clinical MRI scanners, therefore, their use for functional muscle exploration does not require additional investment. These techniques allow visualization and quantification of parameters associated with the vascular health of the muscles and represent interesting support for musculoskeletal exploration.

Sobrevida y evolución neurológica de pacientes con ataque cerebrovascular en una unidad de cuidados intermedios no neurológica / Survival and neurologic outcome of patients with stroke in a non-neurological intermediate care unit

Introducción: En el manejo actual del Ataque Cerebrovascular (ACV) se recomienda el ingreso durante las primeras horas a unidades de ataque cerebrovascular especializadas en su manejo. Sin embargo, su implementación no es posible en todos los hospitales. Objetivo: Conocer los resultados a mediano plazo de pacientes con ACV ingresados a una unidad de cuidados intermedios general (UCIM). Pacientes y método: Estudio de cohorte retrospectiva de todos los pacientes ingresados entre abril de 2007 y marzo de 2008 con diagnóstico de ACV. Todos los pacientes fueron evaluados por neurólogos durante su estadía. Se analizaron características, tratamiento y evolución de los pacientes. Se realizó seguimiento por medio de consulta telefónica. Se midió la escala de Rankin al momento del ingreso y al final del seguimiento, y se analizó la sobrevida a 6 meses. Resultados: Se analizaron 74 pacientes, correspondiendo a 82,4 por ciento isquémicos y 17,6 por ciento hemorrágicos. La media de edad fue de 71,3 años, siendo hombres el 59,6 por ciento. El 97,2 por ciento de los pacientes pre-evento presentaba un Rankin 0-2, mientras que 41,2 por ciento lo presentó al momento de realizar la encuesta telefónica posterior al evento. La sobrevida global a 6 meses fue de 78,4 por ciento. Discusión: La sobrevida y la calidad funcional de pacientes con ACV manejados en una UCIM, se equipara a la observada en unidades de manejo especiales reportadas en la literatura. Esto puede apoyar el uso de UCIM apoyadas por neurólogos para el manejo de pacientes con ACV en aquellos lugares en que no se pueda contar con una unidad especial.