Recanalization and Angiographic Reperfusion Are Both Associated with a Favorable Clinical Outcome in the IMS III Trial.

BACKGROUND: Prompt revascularization is the main goal of acute ischemic stroke treatment. We examined which revascularization scale - reperfusion (modified Treatment in Cerebral Infarctions, mTICI) or recanalization (Arterial Occlusive Lesion, AOL) - better predicted the clinical outcome in ischemic stroke participants treated with endovascular therapy (EVT). Additionally, we determined the optimal thresholds for the predictive accuracy of each scale. METHODS: We included participants from the Interventional Management of Stroke (IMS) III trial with complete occlusion in the internal carotid artery terminus or proximal middle cerebral artery (M1 or M2) who completed EVT within 7 h of symptom onset. The abilities of the AOL and mTICI scales to predict a favorable outcome (defined as a modified Rankin Scale score of 0-2 at 3 months) were compared by receiver operating characteristic analyses. The maximal sensitivity and specificity for each revascularization scale were established. RESULTS: Among 240 participants who met the study inclusion criteria, 79 (33%) achieved a favorable outcome. Higher scores of mTICI and AOL increased the likelihood of a favorable outcome (2.7% with mTICI 0 vs. 83.3% with mTICI 3, and 3.0% with AOL 0 vs. 43% with AOL 3). The accuracy of mTICI reperfusion and AOL recanalization for a favorable outcome prediction was similar, with optimal thresholds of mTICI 2b/3 and AOL 3, respectively. CONCLUSION: Reperfusion (mTICI) and recanalization (AOL) predicted a favorable clinical outcome with comparable accuracy in ischemic stroke participants treated with EVT. Optimal revascularization goals to maximize clinical outcome (modified Rankin Scale score of 0-2) consisted of complete recanalization (AOL 3) and reperfusion of at least 50% of the arterial tree of the symptomatic artery (mTICI 2b/3) in the IMS III trial setting.

Early neurological deterioration after thrombolysis: Clinical and imaging predictors.

BACKGROUND: National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale is the most common scale used in stroke patients. An increase of four points or more within 24 h signifies early neurological deterioration. We aimed to establish how often early neurological deterioration occurs in a cohort selected by magnetic resonance imaging and which factors predicted early neurological deterioration. METHODS: In this single-center study, we collected epidemiological, imaging and outcome data on 569 consecutive patients undergoing reperfusion therapy after magnetic resonance imaging selection. RESULTS: Of these, 33 (5.8%) experienced early neurological deterioration. Seven were due to a symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage, 23 were caused by extension of ischemia on follow-up imaging and three were due to progression on the basis of small vessel disease. Early neurological deterioration was predicted by a larger perfusion lesion, higher blood glucose and presence of large vessel disease. Penumbra occurred in 34% of patients but only 9% of patients with penumbra experienced early neurological deterioration, thus eroding the value of penumbra as an imaging marker. Early neurological deterioration was a poor prognostic sign. Odds ratio for disability or death was 14.9 (95% confidence interval: 6.5-34.0). CONCLUSION: Early neurological deterioration is rare. It originates mainly from ischemic infarct growth rather than from hemorrhage. Concern should be highest in patients with elevated blood glucose, larger perfusion lesions and large vessel disease. Prior aspirin use increases risk of symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage.

Sensitivity of diffusion- and perfusion-weighted imaging for diagnosing acute ischemic stroke is 97.5%.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: MRI using diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) is the most sensitive diagnostic imaging modality for early detection of ischemia, but how accurate is it and how much does perfusion-weighted imaging (PWI) add to the sensitivity have to be known. METHODS: In this single-center study, we collected epidemiological, imaging, and outcome data on all patients with stroke undergoing MRI-based treatment with intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator at our center from 2004 to 2010. The DWI negative patients were identified, and we calculated the sensitivity and specificity of DWI and additional PWI for diagnosing acute ischemic stroke. We compared DWI positive and negative patients to identify characteristics associated with DWI negativity. RESULTS: Five hundred sixty-nine consecutive patients were treated with intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator on the basis of an acute MRI. A DWI lesion was evident in 518 patients. Forty-seven patients were DWI negative; however, a relevant PWI lesion was found in 33 of these patients. Four stroke mimics were treated with intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator and 1 of these patients had a DWI lesion. Thus, 8% of all patients with stroke were DWI negative. The combination of DWI and PWI resulted in a sensitivity of 97.5% for the ischemic stroke diagnosis. DWI negativity was associated with less severe strokes, location in the posterior circulation, a longer time from onset to scan, and an improved 90-day outcome. The cause of small-vessel disease was more likely to be DWI negative. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of DWI and PWI before intravenous tissue-type plasminogen activator confirms the diagnosis in 97.5% of all ischemic strokes.

MRI before intraarterial therapy in ischemic stroke: feasibility, impact, and safety.

Intraarterial therapy (IAT) in acute ischemic stroke is effective for opening occlusions of major extracranial or intracranial vessels. Clinical efficacy data are lacking pointing to a need for proper patient selection. We examined feasibility, clinical impact, and safety profile of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for patient selection before IAT. In this single-center study, we collected epidemiologic, imaging, and outcome data on all intraarterial-treated patients presenting with anterior circulation occlusions at our center from 2004 to 2011. Magnetic resonance imaging was the first imaging choice. Computer tomography (CT) was performed in the presence of a contraindication. We treated 138 patients. Mean age was 64 years and median National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was 17. Major reperfusion (thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (TICI) 2b+3) was achieved in 52% and good outcome defined as modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score 0 to 2 at 90 days was achieved in 41%. Mortality at 90 days was 10%. There was only one symptomatic hemorrhage. Recanalization, age, and stroke severity were associated with outcome. Preprocedure MRI was obtained in 83%. Good outcome was significantly associated with smaller diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) lesion size at presentation and not with the size of the perfusion lesion. It is feasible to triage patients for IAT using MRI with acceptable rates of poor outcome and symptomatic hemorrhage.