Stroke Risk before and after Central Retinal Artery Occlusion: A Population-based Analysis.

PURPOSE: To determine the risk of stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), and transient monocular vision loss (TMVL) before and after a central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO). DESIGN: Population-based, retrospective case series. PARTICIPANTS: Patients diagnosed with a CRAO in Olmsted County, Minnesota, from 1976 to 2016. METHODS: Patients living in Olmsted County with a diagnosis code of CRAO from 1976 to 2016 were reviewed. New CRAOs were confirmed, and stroke, TIA, and TMVL events in the 15 days before and after CRAO were recorded. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incidence of stroke, TIA, and TMVL events in the 15 days before and after CRAO. RESULTS: Eighty-nine patients with a CRAO were identified, providing an annual incidence of 2.58/100 000 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.04-3.11). Median age at the time of CRAO was 76 years (range, 46-100 years); 56.2% were male, and 89.9% of the cohort was White. In the 15 days before and after CRAO, there were 2 ischemic strokes (2.2%), 1 hemorrhagic stroke (1.1%), 2 TIAs (2.2%), and 9 TMVL events (10.1%). Starting in 1999, 15 of 45 patients underwent magnetic resonance imaging within 2 months of CRAO. One patient (6.7%) had evidence of asymptomatic diffusion restriction, and 9 patients (60%) had a remote infarct. CONCLUSIONS: This population-based study demonstrated that the risk of symptomatic ischemic stroke is 2.2% in the 15 days before and after a CRAO, which is slightly lower than most studies from tertiary centers. These data should be considered as practice recommendations are developed regarding the urgency of neurovascular workup in patients with acute CRAO.

Last neurologic event is associated with risk of in-hospital stroke or death after carotid endarterectomy or carotid artery stenting: Secondary data analysis of the German statutory quality assurance database.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to analyze the association between last neurologic event and the risk of stroke or death among patients treated with carotid endarterectomy (CEA) or carotid artery stenting (CAS) under routine conditions in Germany. METHODS: Secondary data analysis was performed based on the German statutory quality assurance database for carotid procedures. A total of 144,347 patients treated by CEA and 14,794 patients treated by CAS were included in the analysis. Primary outcome was any in-hospital stroke or death. To analyze the association between the last neurologic event and outcome, multilevel multivariable regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: In patients treated by CEA, raw risk for any in-hospital stroke or death was 2.0% (2923/144,347), with a risk of 1.4% in asymptomatic and 3.0% in symptomatic patients. In patients treated by CAS, raw risk for any in-hospital stroke or death was 3.6% (538/14,794), with a risk of 1.7% in asymptomatic and 6.1% in symptomatic patients. Regression analysis revealed that increasing severity of last neurologic event was significantly associated with an increasing risk of any in-hospital stroke or death in patients treated by both CEA and CAS (P < .004). However, the risk of any stroke or death did not significantly differ between asymptomatic patients and patients with amaurosis fugax before CEA or CAS (P = .219 for CEA, P = .124 for CAS). CONCLUSIONS: Increasing severity of last neurologic event is associated with an increasing risk of any in-hospital stroke or death in patients treated by CEA and CAS. The risk of any stroke or death did not differ between asymptomatic patients and patients with amaurosis fugax.

Atrial Fibrillation: An Underestimated Cause of Ischemic Monocular Visual Loss?

INTRODUCTION: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a major cause of ischemic stroke and Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) and investigation for paroxysmal AF is recommended following an embolic brain event. In contrast, retinal ischemic monocular blindness is traditionally considered most linked to carotid artery disease (CAS) and investigating for AF is less vigilant. We aimed to determine the prevalence of AF in patients with ischemic monocular blindness. METHODS: Consecutive records of all patients presenting to a daily TIA clinic with transient or permanent ischemic monocular blindness were reviewed, January 2014-October 2016. RESULTS: Of 400 patients, 224 (56.0%) were male, mean age 64.5 years (SD 15.1). A total of 263 (66%) presented with transient and 137 (34%) with permanent ischemic monocular blindness. ECG was performed in 364 patients (91%) but only 211 (52%) had further cardiac monitoring. The vast majority (97.3%) had carotid imaging. Thirty-six patients (9%) were found to have AF while 53 (14%) had ipsilateral CAS. Median ABCD2 score was 1 in AF and non-AF groups. Only 55% of known AF patients were anticoagulated at presentation, despite all having CHADVASC2 score greater than or equal to 1. Patients with AF had more hypertension (P = .004), previous TIA (P = .002), previous stroke (P = .044) and ischemic heart disease (P = .022) with no difference in age (P = .791), diabetes (P = .563), smoking (P = .460) nor hypercholesterolaemia (P = .083). CONCLUSIONS: A total of 9% of patients with ischemic monocular blindness had AF. This is an underestimate, as only 53% of patients had prolonged cardiac monitoring. Known AF was suboptimally managed with only 55% receiving anticoagulation despite being eligible.

An update on the incidence of perioperative outcomes after carotid endarterectomy, stratified by type of preprocedural neurologic symptom.

OBJECTIVE: Perioperative complications after carotid endarterectomy (CEA) have decreased over time. Therefore, we aimed to provide an update on 30-day outcomes after CEA, stratified by type of preprocedural neurologic symptom. METHODS: We included all CEAs from the Targeted Vascular module of the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP, 2011-2015) and stratified patients based on type of preprocedural neurologic symptom, that is, asymptomatic, ocular transient ischemic attack (TIA), hemispheric TIA, and stroke. We compared 30-day outcomes across the groups, with 30-day stroke/death as our primary endpoint. RESULTS: Of 16,739 CEA patients, 9784 were asymptomatic (58%). Among the 6955 symptomatic patients, 1216 (17%) had a preprocedural ocular TIA, 2635 (38%) a preprocedural hemispheric TIA, and 3104 (45%) a preprocedural stroke. Preprocedural stroke patients had higher 30-day stroke/death rates compared with those with a preprocedural hemispheric TIA, or ocular TIA, or asymptomatic patients (5.0% vs 3.3%, 1.9%, and 1.8%, respectively; all P < .001), primarily owing to differences in perioperative 30-day stroke rates, with 4.1% vs 2.5%, 1.4%, and 1.3%, respectively (all P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Among symptomatic CEA patients, those with a preprocedural stroke had a high perioperative 30-day stroke/death rate, compared with those patients with either a preprocedural hemispheric or ocular TIA. Therefore, the common stratification applied to CEA patients, which groups all symptomatic patients, should be avoided, especially as the relative proportion of symptomatic patients with a preprocedural stroke vs those with a hemispheric or ocular TIA will affect the overall outcome for all symptomatic patients after CEA.

Undertreatment of Vascular Risk Factors in Patients with Monocular Ischaemic Visual Loss.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Ischaemic visual loss is often considered a lower risk factor than other transient ischaemic attacks (TIA). We aimed to determine the recurrence risk, prevalence and management of vascular risk factors in these patients. METHODS: The study took place in the University College Hospital London daily TIA clinic, main referral centre for North-Central London and Moorfields Eye Hospital. Consecutive records for patients with transient (< 24 h) or permanent (> 24 h) ischaemic visual loss were reviewed during the period January 2014-October 2016. Patients diagnosed with temporal arteritis were excluded. RESULTS: Of 400 patients, 224 (56%) were male with mean age 64.5 years (SD 15.1); 263 patients (65.8%) presented with transient and 137 patients (34.2%) with permanent ischaemic visual loss; 51.3% had hypertension (HTN), 35.3% hypercholesterolaemia, 14.5% diabetes, 11.8% ischaemic ocular events, 10.0% ischaemic heart disease, 7.3% atrial fibrillation (AF), 6.3% TIA, 5.3% stroke, and 12.3% were smokers. Median vascular risk factors were 2 (range 1-6), but 122 (30.5%) had ≥3. Those with diabetes (p < 0.001), HTN (p = 0.008), previous myocardial infarction (p = 0.005), or ≥3 vascular risk factors (p = 0.012) were more likely to present with permanent visual loss, while patients with history of transient events, TIA (p = 0.002), or ocular (p = 0.002) presented with transient visual loss. Ninety-day recurrence was 10.5%; this was higher in patients with ≥3 risk factors (hazard ratio 1.42, 95% CI 0.95-2.11, p = 0.111). Patients with past TIA were more likely to be on secondary prevention than those with ocular ischaemia; 60.0 vs. 34.1% received antiplatelets and 76.0 vs. 43.9% statins. At presentation, only 55.2% (16 patients) with known AF were anticoagulated, despite all of them having CHADSVASC ≥1. CONCLUSIONS: Approximately one-third of patients with ocular ischaemia had ≥3 vascular risk factors with recurrences higher in these patients. Yet only half of those with previous ischaemic ocular events were on antiplatelets or statins. These patients should be investigated and treated as aggressively as other forms of TIA or stroke.

Is Management of Central Retinal Artery Occlusion the Next Frontier in Cerebrovascular Diseases?

Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is a medical emergency that, if not treated, may result in irreversible loss of vision. It continues to be an important cause for acute painless loss of vision. Amaurosis fugax or "transient CRAO" has long been considered an equivalent of transient cerebral ischemic event. Animal models, in addition to data from retrospective and randomized clinical studies, provide valuable insights into the time interval for irreversible retinal ischemia. Subset analyses from 2 large studies of patients with CRAO show benefit from treatment with thrombolysis within 6 hours from symptoms onset. Significant workflow improvements after the intra-arterial therapy trials for acute ischemic stroke have occurred world over in last 5 years. Patients with CRAO are uniquely suited to receive maximum benefits from the changes in workflow for treatment of patient's acute ischemic stroke. Just as in clinical triage of acute ischemic stroke, correct and timely diagnosis of patients with CRAO may help in preventing visual loss. The approach to acute ocular ischemia should mimic that used for acute brain ischemia. Comprehensive stroke centers would be ideal triage centers for these patients in view of availability of multidisciplinary participation from vascular neurology, neuroendovascular surgery, and ophthalmology. Time is Retina!

Comparison of Clinical Characteristics among Subtypes of Visual Symptoms in Patients with Transient Ischemic Attack: Analysis of the PROspective Multicenter registry to Identify Subsequent cardiovascular Events after TIA (PROMISE-TIA) Registry.

BACKGROUND: A transient visual symptom (TVS) is a clinical manifestation of transient ischemic attack (TIA). The aim of this study was to investigate differences in clinical characteristics among subtypes of TVS using multicenter TIA registry data. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Patients with TIA visiting within 7 days of onset were prospectively enrolled from 57 hospitals between June 2011 and December 2013. Clinical characteristics were compared between patients with 3 major subtypes of TVS (transient monocular blindness [TMB], homonymous lateral hemianopia [HLH], and diplopia). RESULTS: Of 1365 patients, 106 (7.8%) had TVS, including 40 TMB (38%), 34 HLH (32%), 17 diplopia (16%), and 15 others/unknown (14%). Ninety-one patients with 1 of the 3 major subtypes of TVS were included. Symptoms persisted on arrival in 12 (13%) patients. Isolated TVS was significantly more common in TMB than in HLH and diplopia (88%, 62%, and 0%, respectively; P < .001). Duration of symptoms was shorter in patients with TMB than those with HLH (P = .004). The ABCD2 score was significantly lower in patients with TMB compared with those with HLH and diplopia (median 2 [interquartile range 2-3] versus 3 [2-4] and 4 [2-5], respectively; P = .005). Symptomatic extracranial internal carotid artery stenosis or occlusion was seen in 14 (16%) patients, and was more frequent in TMB than in HLH and diplopia (28%, 9%, and 0%, respectively; P = .015). CONCLUSIONS: TVS was an uncommon symptom in our TIA multicenter cohort. Some differences in clinical characteristics were found among subtypes of TVS.

Silent Brain Infarctions and Leukoaraiosis in Patients With Retinal Ischemia: A Prospective Single-Center Observational Study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We aimed to determine the incidence of co-occurring cerebral ischemia, extent of cerebral small vessel disease, and vascular risk profile of patients with acute retinal ischemia. METHODS: RETIS (Frequency of Acute Silent Brain Infarction and Systematic Evaluation of Stroke Risk in Retinal Ischemia) was a single-center, prospective, observational study comprising ophthalmologic examination, brain magnetic resonance imaging, and extensive diagnostic work-up of vascular risk factors and stroke cause. Silent brain infarctions were identified on diffusion-weighted imaging, leukoaraiosis was quantified on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery sequences, and carotid artery stenosis was assessed by carotid ultrasound. RESULTS: Of 112 patients with retinal ischemia, 77 (68.8%) had retinal arterial occlusion, and 35 (31.3%) presented with amaurosis fugax. Silent brain infarctions were found in 17 (15.1%) patients. Internal carotid artery stenosis was present in 19 (17.0%) and severe leukoaraiosis in 29 (25.9%) patients. Atrial fibrillation was detected in 14 (12.5%) patients. Patients with silent brain infarctions had higher rates of internal carotid artery stenosis (35.3% versus 13.7%; P=0.029) than those without, whereas leukoaraiosis and vascular risk factors were comparable between groups. Internal carotid artery stenosis was the only significant predictor of silent brain infarctions in multivariate analysis (odds ratio, 4.27; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-17.23). CONCLUSIONS: Silent cerebral ischemia is present in about 1 in 7 patients with retinal ischemia. The high rate of symptomatic internal carotid artery stenosis suggests that large artery atherosclerosis plays a major role in the pathogenesis of acute retinal ischemia.

Risk of ocular manifestations in patients with giant cell arteritis: a nationwide study in Sweden.

OBJECTIVE: No large-scale nationwide study has determined the risk of ocular manifestations in patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA). The aim was to study the incidence and risk factors of ocular manifestations in patients with GCA in Sweden. METHOD: A national cohort was created by linking Swedish nationwide registers. GCA patients were identified from the Swedish Hospital Inpatient and Outpatient Registers between 2002 and 2010, and were followed until the development of ocular manifestations. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for ocular manifestations in patients with GCA compared to those without GCA. RESULTS: We identified 3737 males and 8311 females with GCA. A total of 1618 individuals had subsequent ocular manifestations, representing 13.4% of the GCA patients. The overall SIR of ocular manifestations was 6.96 (95% CI 6.63-7.31). The risk for disorders of the optic nerve or visual tract was particularly high (SIR = 51.68, 95% CI 46.12-57.73). Men with GCA had a higher risk than women, and GCA patients without polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) symptoms had a higher risk than those with PMR symptoms. Living outside big cities was negatively associated with ocular manifestations in GCA patients, whereas hypertension and diabetes were associated with an increased risk of ocular manifestations. CONCLUSION: The overall risk of ocular manifestations was higher in GCA patients than in the general population, especially for men and for those without PMR symptoms.

[Visual impact of sub-tenon's anesthesia during surgery for retinal detachment].

Objective: To investigate the visual impact and influence factors of sub-Tenon's anesthesia in retinal detachment patients during pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) or combined phacoemulsification and PPV surgery. Methods: In this prospective case series study, 104 consecutive patients who underwent PPV or combined phacoemulsification and PPV under sub-Tenon's anesthesia between October 2012 and December 2013 were enrolled. Intraoperatively, the patients were asked whether they could see the light of the operating microscope or not at 5 minutes after sub-Tenon's anesthesia, and at the end of phacoemulsification, core vitreous removal, peripheral vitreous removal and the whole surgery, with their contralateral eyes being covered tightly and no photobleaching. The best corrected visual acuity and visual evoked potentials were examined and compared with each other preoperatively and at 1.5 months and 3 months postoperatively. Chi-square test was used to compare the detection rate of amaurosis between different modus operandi and whether covered contra-lateral eye. Student-t test was used to compare the difference of age and preoperative BCVA between the patients with or without experienced amaurois. Lastly, BCVA between different times were tested by one-way ANOVA analysis. Results: Without covering the contralateral eyes, the incidence of no light perception in various surgical steps was 0%, while it was 72.1%(75/104), 93.8%(75/80), 96.2%(100/104), 96.2%(100/104) and 86.5%(90/104) at the five timepoints, respectively, when the contralateral eyes were covered tightly. The incidence was 51.9%(54/104), 85.0%(68/80), 85. 6%(89/104), 84.6%(69/104) and 66.3%(88/104), respectively, after photobleaching was excluded. Approximately 95.2%(99/104) of patients reported no light perception at least once, 54.5%(54/99) reported no light perception 5 minutes after sub-Tenon's anesthesia, and 30.3%(30/99) recovered light perception when the surgery was finished. All eyes recovered to at least light perception on the first postoperative day. The best corrected visual acuity and visual evoked potentials at 1.5 months and 3 months postoperatively were significantly better than those before surgery. The BCVA was 1.75±0.78 preoperative, 0.96±0.63 1.5 months after operation, and 0.92±0.57 3 months after operation. There was a significant statistical difference between preoperative BCVA and postoperative BCVA (F=50.61, P<0.01) . In patients without waveform detection preoperatively, PVEP waveform could be found in 43.6% and 61.4% of the pactients at 1.5 months and 3 months after operation respectively. In those had certain waveform preoperatively, PVEP amplitudes rise significantly after surgery (t(1.5)=-2.69, t(3)=-2.97, P<0.05) . Conclusions: No light perception was detected in various surgical steps of vitrectomy under sub-Tenon's anesthesia in most patients. The blocking of optic nerve conduction may be caused by sub-Tenon' s anesthesia. Photobleaching can also have some effect. The incidence of no light perception during the surgery was not correlated with preoperative visual acuity, age and gender. Moreover, the effect was transient and harmless to visual function.(Chin J Ophthalmol, 2017, 53: 332-337).

Symptomatic carotid stenosis and stroke risk in patients with transient ischemic attack according to the tissue-based definition.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Symptomatic carotid stenosis (sCS), a common cause of transient ischemic attack (TIA), is correlated with higher stroke risk. We investigated the frequency and associated factors of sCS in patients with TIA and the association between sCS and stroke risk following TIA. METHODS: Over a three-year period (2011-2013), 861 consecutive patients with TIA, who were admitted to the Department of Neurology at the University of Lübeck, Germany, were included in a monocenter study and prospectively evaluated. Diagnosis of TIA was in accordance with the tissue-based definition (transient neurological symptoms without evidence of infarction by brain imaging). RESULTS: Of 827 patients (mean age, 70 ± 13.2 years; 49.7% women), 64 patients (7.7%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 5.9%-9.7%) exhibited sCS and 3 patients (0.3%) showed an occlusion of the corresponding internal carotid artery. Logistic regression revealed that sCS was associated with male sex (odds ratio [OR], 2.7; 95% CI, 1.2-3.6; p = 0.012), amaurosis fugax (OR, 8.1; 95% CI, 3.4-19-4; p < 0.001), unilateral weakness (OR, 3.4; 95% CI, 1.9-6.1; p < 0.001), symptom duration less than 1 h (OR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.1-3.4; p = 0.019) and previous stroke (OR, 2.7; 95% CI, 1.5-4.7; p = 0.001). During hospitalization (mean, 6.6 days), five patients (0.6%; 95% CI, 0.1%-1.2%) suffered from stroke. The stroke risk was higher in patients with sCS than in those without sCS (6.3% vs. 0.1%; p < 0.001), whereas the recurrent TIA risk (2.6%) did not differ between the groups (4.7% vs. 2.5%; p = 0.29). CONCLUSION: SCS appears to be associated with a higher risk of stroke in patients with TIA defined according to the tissue-based definition.

Amaurosis fugax in ocular vascular occlusive disorders: prevalence and pathogeneses.

PURPOSE: To investigate systematically the prevalence of amaurosis fugax (AF) in various ocular vascular occlusive disorders individually and to discuss the pathogeneses of each. METHODS: The study comprised patients with central retinal artery occlusion (271 eyes), branch retinal artery occlusion (169 eyes), ocular ischemic syndrome (39 eyes), central retinal vein occlusion (864 eyes), hemi-central retinal vein occlusion (67 eyes), branch retinal vein occlusion (285 eyes), nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (946 eyes), and giant cell arteritis with visual loss (147 eyes). At first visit, all patients had a detailed ophthalmic and medical history and comprehensive ophthalmic evaluation and systemic evaluation. RESULTS: Prevalence of AF was 12.18% in central retinal artery occlusion, 14.20% in branch retinal artery occlusion, 15.38% in ocular ischemic syndrome, 4.86% in central retinal vein occlusion, 37.84% in central retinal vein occlusion with cilioretinal artery occlusion, 13.43% in hemi-central retinal vein occlusion, 0.35% in branch retinal vein occlusion, and 2.54% in nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. In giant cell arteritis, 32.4% of patients with ocular involvement had a history of AF or 26.5% of the involved eyes. Amaurosis fugax in central retinal artery occlusion, branch retinal artery occlusion, and nonarteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy is mostly because of transient embolism. The pathogenesis of AF in each ocular vascular occlusive disorder is discussed. CONCLUSION: Prevalence and pathogenesis of AF in various ocular vascular occlusive disorders varies widely. Amaurosis fugax may be the presenting symptom in these disorders and that always requires urgent evaluation.

Spectrum of transient visual symptoms in a transient ischemic attack cohort.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Transient visual symptoms (TVS) are common complaints. They can be related to transient ischemic attacks, but the nature of the symptoms often remains uncertain, and data on prognosis are scarce. We studied the prevalence, presentation, and effect of different types of TVS, paying particular attention to the association with high-risk pathology of embolism. METHODS: A total of 2398 patients with suspected transient ischemic attack admitted to the SOS-TIA clinic between January 2003 and December 2008 underwent immediate evaluation and treatment. RESULTS: Eight hundred twenty-six (34.5%) patients had TVS, including 422 (17.6%) patients with isolated TVS. Transient monocular blindness was the most frequent TVS (36.3%), followed by diplopia (13.4%), homonymous lateral hemianopia (12.3%), bilateral positive visual phenomena (10.8%), and lone bilateral blindness (4.5%). Positive diffusion-weighted imaging was found in 11.8%, 8.1%, 8.1%, and 5.0% of patients with homonymous lateral hemianopia, diplopia, lone bilateral blindness, and transient monocular blindness, respectively. Among 1850 patients (595 patients with TVS) with definite/possible transient ischemic attack or minor stroke, a major source of embolism of cardiac or arterial origin was found less frequently in patients with isolated or nonisolated TVS than in patients without TVS (19.6%; 19.7% versus 28.1%, respectively; P<0.001). However, we found a higher rate of atrial fibrillation in patients with homonymous lateral hemianopia (23.2%) than in patients with other TVS (4.0%; adjusted odds ratio, 6.71; 95% confidence interval, 2.99-15.06) or nonvisual symptoms (9.1%; adjusted odds ratio, 4.39; 95% confidence interval, 2.26-8.50). CONCLUSIONS: Approximately 20% of patients with TVS had a major source of embolism detected, requiring urgent management. Atrial fibrillation was particularly frequent in patients with transient homonymous lateral hemianopia.

Solid cerebral microemboli and cerebrovascular symptoms in patients with prosthetic heart valves.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Although cerebral microemboli are often detected by transcranial Doppler ultrasonography in mechanical heart valve patients, the clinical significance of such microemboli is unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and composition of cerebral microemboli in a prosthetic heart valve population and to correlate these findings to cerebrovascular symptoms, blood inflammation, and coagulation parameters. METHODS: Seventy-six consecutive patients with a total of 81 prosthetic (54 mechanical, 27 biologic) heart valves were monitored for cerebral microemboli by multifrequency transcranial Doppler ultrasonography 1 year after valve replacement. Cerebrovascular events in the first year were recorded by a neurologist. Inflammation and coagulation markers were measured by immunoassays. RESULTS: Microemboli were detected in mechanical heart valve patients only (28 patients, 56%). Twelve percent were solid, occurring in 17 (34%) of the mechanical heart valve population. The presence of solid cerebral microemboli was the only variable that was associated with cerebrovascular symptoms after a final regression analysis (P=0.026). The plasma monocyte chemotactic protein-1 level was raised in patients with solid microemboli (P=0.014). CONCLUSIONS: Solid cerebral microemboli were detected by multifrequency transcranial Doppler ultrasonography in 35% of a mechanical heart valve population, and the frequency was higher in patients who experienced cerebrovascular events during the first year after valve replacement. The results suggest that the detection of solid cerebral microemboli may be helpful in predicting the risk of ischemic stroke in mechanical heart valve patients.

Common carotid artery stenosis and amaurosis fugax.

BACKGROUND: Clinical characteristics of common carotid artery (CCA) stenosis have been reported relatively rarely, compared with those of internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis. The current retrospective study aimed to clarify the symptomatology of CCA stenosis. METHODS: Summarized records of patients admitted were reviewed to identify patients with CCA stenosis or extracranial ICA stenosis. Clinical histories and neurologic symptoms were identified and analyzed. RESULTS: CCA stenosis was present in 12 patients (symptomatic, n = 8; asymptomatic, n = 4). Among symptomatic patients, 4 (50%) had amaurosis fugax. Among 137 patients with symptomatic extracranial ICA stenosis, amaurosis fugax occurred in 9 patients (6.6%). CONCLUSIONS: Frequency of amaurosis fugax was significantly higher in CCA stenosis than in ICA stenosis. Patients with CCA stenosis may be susceptible to transient hemodynamic insufficiency of the retina as a result of simultaneous reductions in blood supplies from both the external carotid artery and the ICA.

[Ophthalmological manifestations of cerebrovascular disease]. / Manifestaciones oftalmológicas de la enfermedad cerebrovascular.

Transient or persistent loss of vision in one eye is a common and distinctive manifestation of occlusive vascular disease. Occasionally, both eyes are involved together or sequentially, with temporary or even permanent blindness. The internal carotid arteries supply blood to the organ of vision; therefore pathologies of those arteries caused by arteriosclerosis may have a direct influence on its functioning. The most common syndromes are temporary (amaurosis fugax) or constant reduction of visual acuity. In fundus examination central retinal artery occlusion and branch retinal artery occlusion are the most common diagnosis, while retinal vein occlusion, anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, ocular ischemic syndrome are less common. There are many clinical ophtlamological manifestations due to vascular brain damage. Proper recognition and diagnosis of the disease may protect the patient against serious life-threatening complications such as stroke.

[Transient monocular blindness: Vascular causes and differential diagnoses]. / Cécité monoculaire transitoire : causes vasculaires et diagnostics différentiels.

Transient monocular blindness is an acute episode of ischemic origin in which one eye has profound visual loss, followed by full recovery within one hour. Transient monocular blindness most often occurs in the setting of retinal ischemia secondary to carotid embolism, but other mechanisms have been reported, including thrombosis (most often in the setting of giant cell arteritis), hemodynamic disorders (secondary to severe carotid stenosis) or vasospasm. Transient monocular blindness is considered a transient ischemic attack originating in the carotid arteries and must benefit from the same management as transient ischemic attack involving the brain, in order to prevent a subsequent stroke.

Transient visual loss triggered by scuba diving in a patient with a petrous epidermoid and combined thrombotic risk factors.

A 25-year-old woman who developed transient neurological abnormalities after scuba diving is reported. The subsequent day she experienced transient left-side monocular blindness. Arterial ocular occlusion in apparently healthy young women is unusual, and a search for the cause of this devastating vascular event is mandatory. Occlusion of the left branch retinal artery, total occlusion of the left internal carotid artery, and a petrous apex epidermoid were found, together with a shortened prothrombin time (INR: 0.73), a slightly elevated serum cholesterol level (6.1 mmol/l) and combined thrombophilia (elevated FVIIIC plus type 2 sticky platelet syndrome). This case underlines the complex mechanism of thromboembolic diseases, and the importance of the acquired trigger (in the present case scuba diving) in addition to the long-term anatomical and biochemical risk factors.

Transient monocular blindness and the risk of vascular complications according to subtype: a prospective cohort study.

Patients with transient monocular blindness (TMB) can present with many different symptoms, and diagnosis is usually based on the history alone. In this study, we assessed the risk of vascular complications according to different characteristics of TMB. We prospectively studied 341 consecutive patients with TMB. All patients were interviewed by a single investigator with a standardized questionnaire; reported symptoms were classified into predefined categories. We performed Cox regression analyses with adjustment for baseline vascular risk factors. During a mean follow-up of 4.0 years, the primary outcome event of vascular death, stroke, myocardial infarction, or retinal infarction occurred in 60 patients (annual incidence 4.4 %, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 3.4-5.7). An ipsilateral ischemic stroke occurred in 14 patients; an ipsilateral retinal infarct in six. Characteristics of TMB independently associated with subsequent vascular events were: involvement of only the peripheral part of the visual field (hazard ratio (HR) 6.5, 95 % CI 3.0-14.1), constricting onset of loss of vision (HR 3.5, 95 % CI 1.0-12.1), downward onset of loss of vision (HR 1.9, 95 % CI 1.0-3.5), upward resolution of loss of vision (HR 2.0, 95 % CI 1.0-4.0), and the occurrence of more than three attacks (HR 1.7, 95 % CI 1.0-2.9). We could not identify characteristics of TMB that predicted a low risk of vascular complications. In conclusion, careful recording the features of the attack in patients with TMB can provide important information about the risk of future vascular events.

Venous Thromboembolism and Cerebrovascular Events in Patients with Giant Cell Arteritis: A Population-Based Retrospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) and cerebrovascular events in a community-based incidence cohort of patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) compared to the general population. METHODS: A population-based inception cohort of patients with incident GCA between January 1, 1950 and December 31, 2009 in Olmsted County, Minnesota and a cohort of non-GCA subjects from the same population were assembled and followed until December 31, 2013. Confirmed VTE and cerebrovascular events were identified through direct medical record review. RESULTS: The study population included 244 patients with GCA with a mean ± SD age at diagnosis of 76.2 ± 8.2 years (79% women) and an average length of follow-up of 10.2 ± 6.8 years. Compared to non-GCA subjects of similar age and sex, patients diagnosed with GCA had a higher incidence (%) of amaurosis fugax (cumulative incidence ± SE: 2.1 ± 0.9 versus 0, respectively; p = 0.014) but similar rates of stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), and VTE. Among patients with GCA, neither baseline characteristics nor laboratory parameters at diagnosis reliably predicted risk of VTE or cerebrovascular events. CONCLUSION: In this population-based study, the incidence of VTE, stroke and TIA was similar in patients with GCA compared to non-GCA subjects.