A Brazilian series utilizing the SMASH-U system for etiologic classification of intracerebral hemorrhage.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the causes of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is crucial for effective treatment and preventing recurrences. The SMASH-U scale is a suggested method for classifying and predicting the outcomes of ICH. OBJECTIVE: To describe the SMASH-U classification and outcomes by etiology in patients admitted to a comprehensive stroke center in São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients admitted to the hospital or outpatient clinic between April 2015 and January 2018. Two stroke neurologists evaluated the SMASH-U classification, and patients with incomplete medical records were excluded. RESULTS: Out of the 2000 patients with a stroke diagnosis evaluated, 140 were included in the final analysis. The mean age was 57.9 (± 15.5) years, and 54.3% were male. Hypertension was the most frequent etiology, accounting for 41.4% of cases, followed by amyloid angiopathy (18.5%) and structural lesions (14.1%). Structural lesions were more common among women and patients under 45 years old. Favorable outcomes were observed in 61% of patients with structural lesions, compared to 10% of patients with medication-related etiologies. CONCLUSION: This study provides important evidence regarding the etiological classification of Brazilian patients with ICH. Hypertension and amyloid angiopathy were the most frequent causes, while structural lesions and systemic diseases were more common in younger patients.

ANTECEDENTES: Compreender as causas da hemorragia intracerebral (HIC) é crucial para o tratamento eficaz e prevenção de recorrências. A escala SMASH-U é um método sugerido para classificar e prever os resultados da HIC. OBJETIVO: Descrever a classificação SMASH-U e os resultados por etiologia em pacientes admitidos em um centro de acidente vascular cerebral (AVC) em São Paulo, Brasil. MéTODOS: Foi realizada uma análise retrospectiva de pacientes admitidos no hospital ou ambulatório entre abril de 2015 e janeiro de 2018. Dois neurologistas especializados em doenças cerebrovasculares avaliaram a classificação SMASH-U e pacientes com prontuários incompletos foram excluídos. RESULTADOS: Dos 2000 pacientes com diagnóstico de AVC avaliados, 140 foram incluídos na análise final. A idade média foi de 57,9 (±15,5) anos e 54,3% eram do sexo masculino. A hipertensão foi a etiologia mais frequente, correspondendo a 41,4% dos casos, seguida pela angiopatia amiloide (18,5%) e lesões estruturais (14,1%). As lesões estruturais foram mais comuns em mulheres e pacientes com menos de 45 anos. Resultados favoráveis foram observados em 61% dos pacientes com lesões estruturais, em comparação com 10% dos pacientes com etiologias relacionadas a medicamentos. CONCLUSãO: Este estudo fornece evidências importantes sobre a classificação etiológica de pacientes brasileiros com HIC. A hipertensão e a angiopatia amiloide foram as causas mais frequentes, enquanto lesões estruturais e doenças sistêmicas foram mais comuns em pacientes mais jovens.

A Brazilian series utilizing the SMASH-U system for etiologic classification of intracerebral hemorrhage / Classificação etiológica de pacientes admitidos com hemorragia intracerebral utilizando a escala SMASH-U: uma série brasileira

Abstract Background Understanding the causes of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is crucial for effective treatment and preventing recurrences. The SMASH-U scale is a suggested method for classifying and predicting the outcomes of ICH. Objective To describe the SMASH-U classification and outcomes by etiology in patients admitted to a comprehensive stroke center in São Paulo, Brazil. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients admitted to the hospital or outpatient clinic between April 2015 and January 2018. Two stroke neurologists evaluated the SMASH-U classification, and patients with incomplete medical records were excluded. Results Out of the 2000 patients with a stroke diagnosis evaluated, 140 were included in the final analysis. The mean age was 57.9 (± 15.5) years, and 54.3% were male. Hypertension was the most frequent etiology, accounting for 41.4% of cases, followed by amyloid angiopathy (18.5%) and structural lesions (14.1%). Structural lesions were more common among women and patients under 45 years old. Favorable outcomes were observed in 61% of patients with structural lesions, compared to 10% of patients with medication-related etiologies. Conclusion This study provides important evidence regarding the etiological classification of Brazilian patients with ICH. Hypertension and amyloid angiopathy were the most frequent causes, while structural lesions and systemic diseases were more common in younger patients.

Resumo Antecedentes Compreender as causas da hemorragia intracerebral (HIC) é crucial para o tratamento eficaz e prevenção de recorrências. A escala SMASH-U é um método sugerido para classificar e prever os resultados da HIC. Objetivo Descrever a classificação SMASH-U e os resultados por etiologia em pacientes admitidos em um centro de acidente vascular cerebral (AVC) em São Paulo, Brasil. Métodos Foi realizada uma análise retrospectiva de pacientes admitidos no hospital ou ambulatório entre abril de 2015 e janeiro de 2018. Dois neurologistas especializados em doenças cerebrovasculares avaliaram a classificação SMASH-U e pacientes com prontuários incompletos foram excluídos. Resultados Dos 2000 pacientes com diagnóstico de AVC avaliados, 140 foram incluídos na análise final. A idade média foi de 57,9 (±15,5) anos e 54,3% eram do sexo masculino. A hipertensão foi a etiologia mais frequente, correspondendo a 41,4% dos casos, seguida pela angiopatia amiloide (18,5%) e lesões estruturais (14,1%). As lesões estruturais foram mais comuns em mulheres e pacientes com menos de 45 anos. Resultados favoráveis foram observados em 61% dos pacientes com lesões estruturais, em comparação com 10% dos pacientes com etiologias relacionadas a medicamentos. Conclusão Este estudo fornece evidências importantes sobre a classificação etiológica de pacientes brasileiros com HIC. A hipertensão e a angiopatia amiloide foram as causas mais frequentes, enquanto lesões estruturais e doenças sistêmicas foram mais comuns em pacientes mais jovens.

Reperfusion therapy for acute ischemic stroke: where are we in 2023?

Over the last three decades, stroke care has undergone significant transformations mainly driven by the introduction of reperfusion therapy and the organization of systems of care. Patients receiving treatment through a well-structured stroke service have a much higher chance of favorable outcomes, thereby decreasing both disability and mortality. In this article, we reviewed the scientific evidence for stroke reperfusion therapy, including thrombolysis and thrombectomy, and its implementation in the public health system in Brazil.

Nas últimas três décadas, o tratamento do AVC sofreu transformações significativas, impulsionadas principalmente pela introdução das terapias de reperfusão e pela organização dos serviços de AVC. Os pacientes que recebem tratamento em um serviço de AVC bem estruturado têm uma probabilidade muito maior de resultados favoráveis, diminuindo assim a incapacidade funcional e a mortalidade. Neste artigo, revisamos as evidências científicas para as terapias de reperfusão do AVC, incluindo trombólise e trombectomia e sua implementação no sistema público de saúde no Brasil.

Thrombectomy for Stroke in the Public Health Care System of Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Randomized trials involving patients with stroke have established that outcomes are improved with the use of thrombectomy for large-vessel occlusion. These trials were performed in high-resource countries and have had limited effects on medical practice in low- and middle-income countries. METHODS: We studied the safety and efficacy of thrombectomy in the public health system of Brazil. In 12 public hospitals, patients with a proximal intracranial occlusion in the anterior circulation that could be treated within 8 hours after the onset of stroke symptoms were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to receive standard care plus mechanical thrombectomy (thrombectomy group) or standard care alone (control group). The primary outcome was the score on the modified Rankin scale (range, 0 [no symptoms] to 6 [death]) at 90 days. RESULTS: A total of 300 patients were enrolled, including 79 who had undergone thrombectomy during an open-label roll-in period. Approximately 70% in the two groups received intravenous alteplase. The trial was stopped early because of efficacy when 221 of a planned 690 patients had undergone randomization (111 to the thrombectomy group and 110 to the control group). The common odds ratio for a better distribution of scores on the modified Rankin scale at 90 days was 2.28 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.41 to 3.69; P = 0.001), favoring thrombectomy. The percentage of patients with a score on the modified Rankin scale of 0 to 2, signifying an absence of or minor neurologic deficit, was 35.1% in the thrombectomy group and 20.0% in the control group (difference, 15.1 percentage points; 95% CI, 2.6 to 27.6). Asymptomatic intracranial hemorrhage occurred in 51.4% of the patients in the thrombectomy group and 24.5% of those in the control group; symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage occurred in 4.5% of the patients in each group. CONCLUSIONS: In this randomized trial conducted in the public health care system of Brazil, endovascular treatment within 8 hours after the onset of stroke symptoms in conjunction with standard care resulted in better functional outcomes at 90 days than standard care alone. (Funded by the Brazilian Ministry of Health; RESILIENT ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02216643.).

Latin American Consensus Statement for the Use of Contrast-Enhanced Transcranial Ultrasound as a Diagnostic Test for Detection of Right-to-Left Shunt.

BACKGROUND: The role of patent foramen ovale is a field of debate and current publications have increasing controversies about the patients' management in young undetermined stroke. Work up with echocardiography and transcranial Doppler (TCD) can aid the decision with better anatomical and functional characterization of right-to-left shunt (RLS). Medical and interventional strategy may benefit from this information. SUMMARY: a group of experts from the Latin American participants of the Neurosonology Research Group (NSRG) of World Federation of Neurology created a task force to review literature and describe the better methodology of contrast TCD (c-TCD). All signatories of the present consensus statement have published at least one study on TCD as an author or co-author in an indexed journal. Two meetings were held while the consensus statement was being drafted, during which controversial issues were discussed and voted on by the statement signatories. The statement paper was reviewed and approved by the Executive Committee of the NSRG of the World Federation of Neurology. The main objective of this consensus statement is to establish a standardization of the c-TCD technique and its interpretation, in order to improve the informative quality of the method, resulting in expanding the application of TCD in the clinical setting. These recommendations optimize the comparison of different diagnostic methods and encourage the use of c-TCD for RLS screening and complementary diagnosis in multicenter studies.

Etiological Classification of Stroke in Patients with Chagas Disease Using TOAST, Causative Classification System TOAST, and ASCOD Phenotyping.

BACKGROUND: Cardioembolism is considered a major pathophysiological mechanism in patients with ischemic stroke (IS) and Chagas disease (CD). However, a previous study reported that other stroke subtypes are present in more than 40% of CD patients according to the TOAST classification. Therefore, the aim of our study was to evaluate the etiologic classification of stroke in patients with CD using the Causative Classification System (CCS), the ASCOD, and the TOAST classifications in a prospective cohort of patients. METHODS: Patients evaluated in our outpatient clinic from 2012 to 2015 with IS and CD were included and underwent full investigation for stroke etiology. TOAST, CCS TOAST, and the ASCOD classifications were compared. FINDINGS: We Included 32 patients (18 men; mean age 62.7 +/-10.1 years). A total of 93.8% had at least 1 vascular risk factor; the most frequent was hypertension (87.5%). According to TOAST, we defined 87.5% as having cardioembolic stroke, being 9.4% as large-artery atherosclerotic (LAA) and 3.1% as undetermined cause. Using the CCS TOAST, 62.5% were classified as cardioaortic embolism evident and 15.6% as possible, 6.3% as small artery occlusion evident and 3.1% as probable, and 12.5% as LAA evident. When ASCOD phenotyping was applied, atherosclerosis was present in 50.1% of patients (A1 = 6.3%, A3 = 43.8%), cardiac pathology in 84.4% (C1 = 62.5%, C2 = 15.6%, C3 = 6.3%), and small-vessel disease in 66% (S1 = 9.4%, S2 = 3.1%, S3 = 3.1%). FINDINGS: In conclusion, the use of the CCS and the ASCOD phenotyping in patients with CD confirmed a high frequency of cardioembolic IS but also showed that other etiologies are prevalent, such as large-artery atherosclerosis and small-vessel occlusion.

Symptomatic Cerebral Vasospasm and Delayed Cerebral Ischemia Following Transsphenoidal Resection of a Craniopharyngioma.

BACKGROUND: Vasospasm has been rarely described as a complication associated with craniopharyngioma surgery. Herein we describe a patient who developed symptomatic vasospasm and delayed cerebral ischemia after transsphenoidal surgery for a craniopharyngioma. CASE REPORT: A 67-year-old woman became drowsy 2 weeks after a transsphenoidal resection of a craniopharyngioma. A head computed tomography (CT) was unremarkable except for postoperative findings. Electroencephalogram and laboratory studies were within the normal limits. A repeated CT scan 48 hours after the initial symptoms showed bilateral infarcts in the territory of the anterior cerebral arteries (ACA). Transcranial Doppler (TCD) showed increased blood flow velocities in both anterior cerebral arteries (169 cm/second in the left ACA and 145 cm/second in the right ACA) and right middle cerebral artery (164 cm/second) compatible with vasospasm. A CT angiography confirmed the findings. She was treated with induced hypertension and her level of consciousness improved. TCD velocities normalized after 2 weeks. CONCLUSION: Cerebral vasospasm should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with altered neurologic status in the postoperative period following a craniopharyngioma resection.

Brazilian guidelines for the application of transcranial ultrasound as a diagnostic test for the confirmation of brain death.

Neurosonological studies, specifically transcranial Doppler (TCD) and transcranial color-coded duplex (TCCD), have high level of specificity and sensitivity and they are used as complementary tests for the diagnosis of brain death (BD). A group of experts, from the Neurosonology Department of the Brazilian Academy of Neurology, created a task force to determine the criteria for the following aspects of diagnosing BD in Brazil: the reliability of TCD methodology; the reliability of TCCD methodology; neurosonology training and skills; the diagnosis of encephalic circulatory arrest; and exam documentation for BD. The results of this meeting are presented in the current paper.

Brazilian guidelines for the application of transcranial ultrasound as a diagnostic test for the confirmation of brain death / Diretrizes brasileiras para o uso do ultrassom transcraniano como teste diagnóstico de confirmação de morte cerebral

Neurosonological studies, specifically transcranial Doppler (TCD) and transcranial color-coded duplex (TCCD), have high level of specificity and sensitivity and they are used as complementary tests for the diagnosis of brain death (BD). A group of experts, from the Neurosonology Department of the Brazilian Academy of Neurology, created a task force to determine the criteria for the following aspects of diagnosing BD in Brazil: the reliability of TCD methodology; the reliability of TCCD methodology; neurosonology training and skills; the diagnosis of encephalic circulatory arrest; and exam documentation for BD. The results of this meeting are presented in the current paper.

Estudos neurossonológicos, especialmente o Doppler transcraniano (DTC) e o duplex transcraniano codificado a cores (DTCC), apresentam elevados níveis de especificidade e sensibilidade quando utilizados como exames complementares no diagnóstico de morte encefálica (ME). Um grupo de peritos do Departamento Científico de Doppler transcraniano da Academia Brasileira de Neurologia criou uma força-tarefa de forma a determinar os critérios neurossonológicos para os seguintes aspectos no diagnóstico de ME no Brasil: metodologia do DTC; metodologia do DTCC; treinamento e habilidades em Neurossonologia; diagnóstico de parada circulatória encefálica e documentação do exame para a ME. Os resultados deste encontro foram apresentados neste artigo.

Clinical features associated with early hospital arrival after acute intracerebral hemorrhage: challenges for new trials.

BACKGROUND: Early hospital admission followed by correct diagnosis with minimum delay is a prerequisite for successful new interventions in acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical features associated with early hospital arrival in ICH patients and their influence on the outcome. METHODS: Data from all patients arriving within 24 h of the ICH onset were prospectively collected at 2 stroke centers in São Paulo, Brazil. The cutoff of 3 h was chosen to select 2 groups: 0-3 h (early) and >3-24 h (late). RESULTS: We identified 91 ICH patients (mean age 57.9 years, 62% men, 63% white) admitted within the first 24 h of symptom onset between March 2004 and April 2005. Systolic blood pressure, mean arterial pressure and pulse pressure were significantly higher in patients arriving within 3 h. Patients that arrived early also had a higher NIHSS score (p = 0.003), a lower Glasgow Coma Score (p = 0.001) and presence of intraventricular hemorrhage (p = 0.02). Lower ICH scores were more frequent in those that arrived late. Fourteen patients showed hematoma enlargement and the majority of them (n = 13) were admitted within the first 3 h from symptom onset (p = 0.01). Patients who arrived within the 3-hour window had a higher 30-day mortality (p = 0.0008) and a worse Rankin score after 6 months (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment decisions in acute ICH may need to establish new combined approaches to maximize the number of eligible patients for early therapy considering the interactions between independent outcome predictors presented at early onset.